Manassas Cinemas closes for good

MANASSAS, Va. -- In an e-mail to the News & Messenger, Stafford resident Blake Sanders said he had tried to see “Ironman 2” at the Manassas Cinemas, but found the place closed when he arrived.

Sanders saw a painter’s drop cloth covering the ticket window and a ladder blocking the door.

“Looking inside, I saw a popcorn machine that appeared to be partially disassembled on the side of the lobby. The shelves on the concession stand were also bare,” Sanders wrote.

That was Wednesday.

A sign in the window at the time said that the movie theater would open at 5 p.m., Sanders said.

“I wasn't going to hold my breath for 5 p.m. By the looks on the faces of the others that drove up and looked as surprised as I was, they weren't either,” Sanders wrote.

By Friday, a sign on the door to the business stated “Theater closed. If entry is needed please go to 8817 Portner Ave., #2. Building was left open and is considered to be abandoned. July 22, 2010. 5:38 p.m.”

The address is the management office of Deer Park Apartments. People in the office there said they couldn’t comment on the theater’s closing, but confirmed that the theater was going out of business.

A entry on the Manassas Cinemas' Facebook page said “so its official......we are closed.... Thank you for all the support from our awesome customers.”

The latest entries on the Manassas Cinemas’ website indicate that the movies “Toy Story,” “Iron Man,” “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” and “Karate Kid” would be showing between June 18 and 24.

Manassas Cinemas’ Facebook posts show that the theater was operating as late as June 28 with a midnight screening of “Eclipse.”

Manassas City Councilman Andrew L. “Andy” Harrover said he hated to see the cinema go.

“I saw that they were closing and that was sad. I liked the little cafe they had. That was cool,” Harrover said.

“They had a theater where they also served pizzas and stuff like that,” Harrover said of the theater that had been open in that location for 15 to 20 years.

“I always liked that you could go in there and eat dinner while you were watching a movie,” Harrover said.

Theatre owner Shannon Herrera could not be reached for comment Friday.

Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-5751.