Maya Cinemas marks first year
| Wednesday, Jul 14 2010 03:33 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jul 14 2010 03:33 PM
Maya Cinemas First Anniversary
Where: Maya Cinema, 1000 California Ave.
When: Today, Friday and Saturday
Activities: Free popcorn with each paid admission, all three days; Friday: birthday cake judging at the 12:01 a.m. premiere of "Inception"; Saturday: children's activities -- bounce houses, face-painting, noon to 5 p.m.
Maya Cinemas is throwing a birthday party to mark its first year of operation in Bakersfield, and there's a lot to celebrate.
"We are really happy with people accepting the theater and the experience," said Maya Cinemas president Frank Haffar.
The experience has included the latest technology, including three 3-D auditoriums; stadium seating with leather recliner seats; various discounts on food and admissions; foreign-language films and indie films included in the lineup. Haffar said the theater sold 700,000 tickets in its first year of operation, and expects to finish 2010 with over 1.2 million tickets sold, with ticket prices ranging from $9 for regular format films, to $12 for 3-D movies.
"We did our best to charge the least amount we can and still maintain quality and obtain first-run movies," said Haffar, who added the price structure will remain the same next year.
Because Maya Cinemas' business plan targets redevelopment areas, plenty of others have been watching the theater's progress as well.
"A lot of people were concerned about safety," said Downtown Business Association president Cathy Butler.
Butler said downtown business owners were worried about loitering, car break-ins and other crimes associated with large groups of people gathering downtown at night.
"Everyone I talked to -- individuals, business owners -- they feel very safe," Butler said. "They're thrilled with the amenities."
Butler credits the theater, as well as the Mill Creek development, with encouraging new housing development downtown.
"That's exactly what that's intended for," Butler said. "The amenities there, that will induce people to want to live there."
According to city economic development director Donna Kunz, businesses also want to "live" downtown.
"We had dead silence on our property for the last three years," Kunz said, referring to the 10-acre parcel the city owns on Q Street near the theater. "Now we've been flooded with inquiries in the last 90 days, and are in serious negotiations with four companies."
Kunz said she believes the activity is occurring now because banks are finally starting to lend again. But she credits the theater's success for the interest.
"The first question out of their mouths is, 'how is the theater doing?'" Kunz said.
Kunz said plans for the city's 10 acres, plus plans Maya has for its own property, will complete the transformation of that section of downtown.
"This time next year we'll have quite an entertainment district down there," Kunz said.
So, what should we expect from the theater in its second year?
"I think we're learning that we should have shade and trellises on the outside so people who have to wait in line have shade," said Haffar, who hopes to add a restaurant in the theater this year as long as the economy is "up for that."
Maya Cinemas has a policy of community involvement, including ties with charities, schools and promotion of the arts. Haffar pointed to some activities this first year, working with schools to honor top students, promotions with the Alliance Against Family Violence, Toys for Tots and other groups. Haffar said he hopes to see more activity this year.
"It just takes time to get to know the needs of the community," Haffar said. "That first year was really more of a learning experience."
