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Channelside Cinemas has a picturesque patio and a concession stand that offers biscotti as well as popcorn, as well as off-beat movies.
By SUE CARLTON
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 13, 2001
TAMPA -- At the Disney-perfect shopping complex by the water, just-planted palms are still supported by wood planks. Workers lug ladders, and the whine of power tools rises over piped-in music. Banners on empty storefronts promise a future of hot nights, cool drinks, Southern cooking and "deep-fried dancing."
But on Friday afternoon, there were signs of commerce at the top of the open-air escalator at the Shops at Channelside retail and entertainment complex.
Tampa's latest shiny-bright megaplex, Channelside Cinemas, opened its doors to a handful of afternoon moviegoers for the first time, offering free popcorn and a drink with each ticket.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" said Peter Kral, a Lakeland retiree who drove over after seeing a news story about the picturesque complex. A manager dashed by, jockeying between theaters, adjusting the volume in one, fixing the focus in another.
With the Centro Ybor megaplex open less than a mile away and the recent closing of Tampa's Hollywood 20 theaters, there has been speculation about the survival of this latest movie venture downtown.
Channelside is banking on being different, advertising "movies outside the mainstream."
That means shows more likely to be talked about as films than movies. More likely touted as "Winner of the Venice International Film Festival" than given "Two Thumbs Up!" Less teen, more intellectual. More subtitles, less Rugrats in Paris.
On Friday, the smell of fresh construction mixed with corn popping in the cavernous art deco lobby. At the concession stand, college student Quinn Caruso grabbed a frozen lemonade on his way to see Urbania, touted on the theater walls as "film noire for the 21st century."
"As much as I like mainstream films, there are a lot of non-mainstream films I want to see," he said. "I'm so relieved we have a theater that'll show that." On Friday, he was one of three people who settled in the darkened theater for the first showing.
Robert Perez, a saute chef who works in Ybor City, didn't think this newest theater would compete with Centro Ybor.
"When people thinking about Ybor, they think wild," he said. "This is different."
That, says alternative marketing coordinator Robbie Arrington, is the idea.
"This is our way of standing out," he said.
As is the trend, the concession stand goes beyond requisite Milk Duds and hot dogs. Patrons can also buy Italian soda, herbal tea, biscotti and just-baked cookies. Beer and wine are expected to be available in two months, Arrington said.
Just outside the theater doors is a picturesque patio with a Chamber of Commerce view of the channel, passing boats and docks. Below is a pretty courtyard with a splashing fountain. Just next door is the Florida Aquarium.
The nine auditoriums range from 180 to 400 seats, and a 3-D IMAX theater is expected to open in March. Shops and restaurants are scheduled to open later this year.
Arrington said planners were concerned that patrons might think parking would be scarce and expensive. So, the multistory garage across the street costs 50 cents for the first three hours and $1 for each hour after that. Valet parking is available for $6.
Bryant and Nancy Murphy, a South Tampa couple who estimate they see hundreds of movies each year, stopped by to check out Channelside at lunchtime Friday. She likes the dramas and tearjerkers, and they both like action films.
After a quick tour, they made plans to come back that night to see "probably the Kung Fu movie," Nancy Murphy said.
"Crouching something," she said. (The movie is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a "superb martial arts/romance bonanza" involving a beautiful but mysterious woman, an intriguing desert bandit and a stolen weapon, according to the theater's write-up, posted on the wall.)
The Murphys said they like the amenities, the plush rocking stadium seats and auditoriums paneled with rich fabrics.
"It's gorgeous," Nancy Murphy said.
"But if the movie's got some "umph' to it," Bryant Murphy said, "you can seat me on the floor."
- Sue Carlton can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or carlton@sptimes.com.