‘Welcome back to the movies!’ SLO theater reopens after yearlong COVID closure
A San Luis Obispo movie theater has a message for local film lovers: “Welcome back to the movies!”
Downtown Centre Cinemas, owned by Bruce and Dianne Sanborn, has reopened after being closed for more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are only operating at 25% occupancy so we feel confident we can keep all guests and employees safe,” Raquel Tomelloso, the theater’s general manager, wrote in an email.
All local movie theaters are required to limit the number of moviegoers indoors due to San Luis Obispo County’s status in the red tier of coronavirus restrictions under California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
“Even at 25% capacity restrictions the owners wanted to move forward and get the Downtown going again,” according to company representatives.
Downtown Centre Cinemas, which closed its doors in mid-March 2020, reopened Thursday night with several safety measures in place.
“We will have around 13 hand sanitizing stations placed throughout our lobby and will make sure all guests stay six feet apart with floor stickers as markers for customers standing in line,” Tomelloso wrote.
Downtown Centre Cinemas also upgraded some of its ticketing and some of its software technology, according to theater officials.
“Welcome back to the movies,” theater owners Bruce and Dianne Sanborn say on the Downtown Centre website. “We look forward to seeing you soon!”
Movies currently screening at the theater include “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Mortal Kombat” and “Tom and Jerry,” as well as Oscar nominees “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Nomadland” and “Promising Young Woman.”
“Shrek” will screen Sunday as part of a 20th anniversary screening.
While many theaters have reopened in limited capacity countywide — including Bay Theatre in Morro Bay, Galaxy in Theatres in Atascadero, and Park Cinemas in Paso Robles — Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo and Regal Cinemas in Arroyo Grande remain temporarily closed, according to their websites.
San Luis Obispo’s Sunset Drive-In theater has been open since May after closing in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
This story was originally published April 24, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
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