PIKESVILLE, Md. — A Pikesville theater that was the first black-owned theater in Maryland has announced it's shutting down.
Next Act Cinema took over the historic Pikes Theatre building on Reisterstown Road at Sherwood Avenue.
Now, the owners said on social media that they're closing the venue, as of Monday.
Next Act Cinema wrote:
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Next Act Cinema on December 30, 2024. For the past seven years, we’ve had the privilege of bringing the magic of movies to Pikesville and creating a space where stories came to life, memories were made, and connections were built.
Your unwavering support, from attending screenings to sharing laughs and celebrating milestones with us, has meant the world. Next Act Cinema was more than just a theater; it was a community, and that was only possible because of you.
While this chapter is coming to an end, we will forever cherish the incredible moments we’ve shared with each of you. Thank you for being part of our story.
When it first opened, many people were excited to have the smaller theater, people like Robert Downey III.
"It was always peace and love and I'm really going to miss this place, I seen the sign that said thanks for the memories and I was hoping that was a movie because it was really sad to me," says Downey.
Monday was not just the last time the doors were opened, it was also the last time Downey and his son got to watch a movie together at this location.
Downey says it was bitter sweet for him since he has seen all of the sonic movies at this theater, he says it was only right to come on the last day.
"It's emotional for me because you know me and my son Robert Downey IV, we have been coming here for years since they started, our barber over east told us about it and we live in the area so we definitely wanted to support this theater since we knew it was a black owned theater and we tried to come every week," he says.
Other people say they will miss it too, Dennis Glover says the setting of the theater is different from others.
"Between this movie theater and the chain theaters its small, it's intimate and it's more personable and I think you simply get a better feeling of satisfaction knowing that those things are being offered to you as well as the intimacy that a theater would give you coming into a smaller venue," says Dennis Glover.
He also says he wonders if the cinema is closing because of low attendance to the movies.
Dennis Glover says he is hopeful this is not the end of next act cinemas.
"I'd like to see it remain or taken over ownership by someone else simply because I think the experience is one that is rich and its supporting the community and I just think it needs to remain," he says.
The owners of next act cinema have not said what their plans are now that the business is closing down.
