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About 40 people met at the movie theatre in Knoxville yesterday afternoon to discuss what it would take to reopen it. A representative from Fridley Theatres was on-hand to discuss the general condition of the building as well as some the basic concepts behind running a movie theatre. She said that the movie theatre was still profitable when it was closed on Labor Day weekend last year. It was just a personal preference of the management of the company to focus on megaplexes in large cities rather than some of the smaller theatres they had.

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Knoxville Mayor Don Zoutte says that the asking price for the theatre is $85,000 as is. He notes that there would have to be some upgrades in equipment – most notably, the film reels would have to be upgraded from film to digital in each theatre. Zoutte says that there may be potential upgrades a purchaser would have to make in terms of getting the building up to standards of the American Disabilities Act, but the building may also be grandfathered in. He says they are gathering more information on that.

Zoutte adds that anyone seriously considering investing in the theatre should meet at the Chamber of Commerce Conference room next Thursday at 5pm. There will be more specific discussion about financials and operations at that meeting.