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Burlington’s only movie theater, Merrill’s Roxy Cinema, will close its doors
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Burlington’s only movie theater, Merrill’s Roxy Cinema, will close its doors

Movie theater with an illuminated reading tent at night "Roxy," A wet street in the foreground and blurry car lights passing by.
The Roxy theater in Burlington on Friday, November 8th. Photo: Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Merrill’s Roxy Cinema in Burlington is closing after 43 years of operation, leaving the city without a commercial movie theater.

Local theater announced the news in a Facebook post on Thursday. and expressed his gratitude to everyone who has visited the theater over the past few decades. The company did not share the closing date.

“We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years,” the company wrote. “From regular moviegoers to first-time visitors, your presence and passion meant everything to us.”

The theater, which was first built and opened in 1981, has had many owners over the years, including USA Cinemas and Hoyts Theatres. Cinema Treasures. In 2003, Merrill Jarvis III purchased and reopened the theater under its new name, Merrill’s Roxy Cinema.

The Jarvis family once owned 13 movie theaters in northeastern Vermont, most of them in Chittenden County. Seven Days. With the closing of the Roxy in Burlington and Palace 9 in South Burlington in 2023The Jarvises stayed at their last theater, Majestic 10, in Williston.

During Covid-19 epidemicMerrill’s Roxy Cinema closed its doors for 18 months. Burlington Free Press. Moreover, online streaming services While audiences preferred to watch from the comfort of their own couches, they also entered the cinema industry.

In an effort to increase ticket sales, Roxy launched a $5 Tuesday promotion and offered discounted ticket prices to students. However, despite these changes and the popular productions of the last few years such as “Barbie”, “Oppenheimer”, “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine”, the Jarvis family has decided to close another of their cinemas. .

The company said in a social media post that it will honor previously purchased gift cards, director passes or theater rentals at its remaining Williston location.

VTDigger could not reach the theater and its owners for comment Friday.