Two Iconic Seattle Movie Theaters Close Abruptly

SEATTLE, WA - Out of the blue, the Landmark Theatres chain announced on Twitter that it would close two of Seattle's most iconic movie houses indefinitely. According to the company, the two theaters are closing for renovations. But in a city where landmarks are often brushed aside for new development, the sudden closures are ominous.

The Guild 45th, with its pink art deco facade, and the Seven Gables, housed in a building that is literally a house, closed abruptly Tuesday. Signs posted on the doors say that the theaters will reopen after renovations. Landmark's third Seattle-area theater, The Crest in Shoreline, which shows second-run movies at a discount, remains open.

Landmark has not said whether the closures are permanent, but both theaters are located in parts of Seattle that are under heavy redevelopment. The Seven Gables, located along Roosevelt Avenue, is adjacent to a number of new apartment buildings. The theater is also located in a recently rezoned area, which allows developers to build taller, more lucrative buildings.

The Guild 45th is located in the heart of the Wallingford neighborhood, which has also seen large apartment developments spring up recently.

According to King County property records, both theaters are owned by a company called Silver Cinemas Acquisition Co., and have been since 2001. Silver City is the holding company that owns Landmark.

But since Silver City Bought the theaters in 2001, the value of the buildings has more than doubled. In 2001, the Seven Gables property was valued at about $620,000. In 2017, it's worth about $1.6 million - that's a 158 percent increase in value.

"The stone and groaning door of this tomb is closing," wrote Stranger film critic Charles Mudede about the sudden closures.

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