End of an Era as Oakridge Cinemas Closes Today

Today is the last day for Empire Theatres in Oakridge Mall. The closure of the cinema will make way for Crate & Barrel, the very first in Vancouver (Crate & Barrels, sibling CB2 is opening up this winter/spring on Robson Street). This is all part of the redevelopment of Oakridge Centre, which will add more stores to the mall along with more residential and office towers.

The closure will affect 25 employees. This will leave South Vancouver without a theatre for a few years until the new 11 screen theatre complex is built at Marine & Cambie, which is part of the Marine Gateway development approved in 2011. This will result in more screens to the growing population base on the city’s south side.  No more will South Vancouver residents have to venture to Richmond, Metrotown or Downtown to catch a movie.

Image: @Reianz