Movie complex to expand
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The Janesville Plan Commission will review the Movies 10 proposal when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers at the Janesville Municipal Building, 18 N. Jackson St.
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Movies 10 hopes to add six more theaters to its building in Janesville's Pine Tree Plaza.
JANESVILLE — Janesville would lose one of its two movie houses but gain six new movie screens under a plan proposed to the city.
The owner of Wildwood Theatres is asking the city for permission to expand its Movies 10 complex at 3100 Deerfield Drive in the Pine Tree Plaza.
Wildwood also owns the Rock Theatres, 1620 Newport Road. The owner would close Rock Theatres after an expanded Movies 10 opens, according to a memo to city council members.
Rock Theatres, which is 17 years old, would be “marketed for another use and owner,” the memo states. “Given the location and the number of theaters already in the community, it is unlikely that the re-use of the structure will be for theaters in the future. That property is zoned B2, Community Shopping District, which allows numerous commercial uses.”
Gale Price, manager of building and development services for the city, said he’s not surprised to hear that Rock Theatres might close. Its location is “terrible,” out of sight of nearby Milton Avenue and patrons, Price said.
Wildwood owner Tony Groh hinted he has exciting plans for Movies 10, but he declined to elaborate, saying he did not want the plan commission to think he was taking their approval for granted.
Groh said he’d be glad to talk about the project if the city approves it.
Groh and general contractor DEBCO of Janesville are requesting an amendment to the Pine Tree development’s conditional-use permit, which would allow the expansion to proceed.
Wildwood also owns the Luxury 10 Cinema, 2799 Cranston Ave., Beloit.
MOVIES 10 PROJECT DETAILS
Documents accompanying the plan commission agenda include these details about the proposed Movies 10 expansion project:
-- 10-screen complex expanded to 16 screens with additional rest rooms. Four new screens added to the west wing of the building, two to the east.
-- Probable new name: Movies 16.
-- The existing building, which opened in 1998, sits on 7.65 acres. The building comprises 31,632 square feet. The six new theaters would add 9,800 square feet.
-- The city is asking for an easement on the northwest corner of the property for a future bike trail segment as well as sidewalks connecting the site to the nearby residential area.
-- Parking: Movies 10 currently has 674 parking spaces and 1,980 theater seats. The expansion would leave 629 spaces. Theater seats would increase to 2,616. Normally, more parking would be required. However, city planning staff recommend no more parking spaces because adjoining parking areas provide enough spaces, even at peak shopping times.
Jan 6, 2010 at 1:05 p.m.
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At least Rock Theatres are less hassle to get to & from. For all that, Movies 10 isn't all that clean either.
Jan 6, 2010 at 12:53 p.m.
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Miltonalum-If they are this far they have already bid the construction out an DEBCO is their choice.
Nov 29, 2009 at 2:01 a.m.
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Why would they hand this to DEBCO, it should go out for bids to the lowest price....
Nov 28, 2009 at 11:42 p.m.
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I know, turn Rock Theatres into another bar.
Oct 5, 2009 at 1:48 p.m.
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As far as quality goes, Star Cinemas and the Marcus Theater on the west side of Madison make Rock Theater and Movies 10 feel like watching movies at home with a bunch of strangers. If Movies 10 expands, they'd better also improve the seating quality (true stadium seating, better chairs) and the overall theater quality. I can drive 25 minutes to Johnson Creek and get a much better theater experience for the money. The only thing nice about Rock Theaters is that it's rarely busy so you've usually got your pick of seating. Other than that, I try to avoid it unless there is a film playing there that I absolutely want to see on the big screen. With technology for home theaters so much improved over even 5 years ago, it's time theaters start giving us higher quality for the money.
Oct 5, 2009 at 3:02 a.m.
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I'd like to see another drive-in pop up locally. Miss those.
Rock theater is kinda blah. Last time I went with friends there his car had its windows broken and car was keyed. Heard a few other people have similar problems. Never been in the one in Pine tree yet. Usually go up to Madison to one of the Marcus theaters when we go to the movies now.
Oct 4, 2009 at 1:45 p.m.
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How bout an IMAX??
Oct 4, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.
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Nothing beats the theater in Johnson Creek, at least in the immediate area. If I'm going to spend hard earned money, I will make the extra drive to see a movie in a comfortable setting. However, I like Pine Tree a lot more than Rock. I won't go to Rock to see a movie. It is in bad shape and the theaters always seem dirty.
Oct 4, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.
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Rock Theaters suck. They are completely run down. I cannot believe all the negative comments about Pinetree Plaza and the Movies 10, they are good for our community and provide jobs to our community which is what we need in this town. Let's just keep shopping and going to movies in Madison and then complain that we have a 12% unemployment rate in Rock County. If you shop in Janesville maybe businesses would stop closing down.
Oct 4, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.
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Agreed, Janesville Imax would rock. We never watch movies in town. We drive to Madison Imax or 3-D also Rockford for 3-D.. This would keep us local.. Bring back Rocky rococco's too and we would love family night in town again..
Oct 4, 2009 at 7:05 a.m.
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Usually the closest place to see captioned movies is in Madison.
Usually I just wait until the movies come out on DVD or pay-per view and watch them at home.
Oct 3, 2009 at 10:47 p.m.
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visit Johnson Creek havent been there? But I like Star in Fitchburg and I vote for a Imax!!
Oct 3, 2009 at 10:01 p.m.
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DeafRev: I agree with your suggestion. It would be nice to have that option here in Janesville. I am also wondering if, maybe, captioning is available in Delavan? Does that community even have a theater?
Oct 3, 2009 at 9:24 p.m.
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our county can not afford to lose more jobs so I hope they keep both open.
Oct 3, 2009 at 9:20 p.m.
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Makes sense, instead of two unkept theaters, we will only have one.
If you want to see how a theater should be, visit Johnson Creek.
Oct 3, 2009 at 8:42 p.m.
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Well, I remember when it was a big deal to get those four (?) crackerbox screens in the Janesville Mall!
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It's too bad that this consolidation means there's only one actual theater, with no real entertainment options on the west or south sides, but I wouldn't have high hopes of anything like that anyway.
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The jobs are pretty close to minimum wage, probably mostly part-time, and it isn't a big part of the job market anyway. Seems like a bigger concern to some than it really is.
Oct 3, 2009 at 8:35 p.m.
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DeafRev I think that would be a great idea.
Oct 3, 2009 at 7:44 p.m.
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I sure would appreciate it if one of the screens could be used to provide captioned movies for the hearing impaired that live in the area. Then I would be able to go to the movies too.
Oct 3, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.
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I think Movies 10 is horrible. It's always dirty when I go, I prefer Rock any day. Hopefully it stays
Oct 3, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.
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1. I can't afford the luxury of going to the movie theater.
2. I hate Pine Tree Plaza and stay away as much as possible.
3. I prefer Rock Theaters, less traffic and congestion to deal with.
4. Nothing is said about adding or eliminating jobs.
Oct 3, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.
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I can't really afford to go to the movies, so it can be movies 1 or movies 1,000 and it's inconsequential to me. What I worry about is; is it going to be a net gain or a net loss for jobs? Generally when two things merge like this, it means a net loss. The only thing I could see making gains, is if a new employer moves into the old building. That, however, could be nothing more than an assumption.
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