[Downtown Victoria] Capitol Six building | Sold - October 2015

The conical window roof on the corner, which was rebuilt recently, may be worth saving but I don't think the rest of the building is.

Chard may also develop his new 800 block Broughton St. property first.

Chard may also develop his new 800 block Broughton St. property first.

Which property is that? The old VanCity building? It's not listed on Chard's website.

So when does the auction on the A/V equipment start?

Which property is that? The old VanCity building? It's not listed on Chard's website.

No that is still owned by Vancity (for now). Chard has the old Black Press building and adjacent parking lot.

I expect the Black Press building work to go on ahead of anything on these sites.

No that is still owned by Vancity (for now). Chard has the old Black Press building and adjacent parking lot.

Ahh, cool thanks.

The Empire at University Heights will be next to close. Most likely still open because they can not get out of the lease without huge expense. They could shut down Capital 6 because they own the land and I would bet there is a secret deal in the works.

I remember when the Capitol 6 opened it was a big deal. Largest theatre on the island at the time

First movie I ever went to was in the old capitol theatre


There was also a fairly decent eatery on the ground floor called Famous Charlies

Many evenings spent in my youth at Johnny Zees circa roughly 1988 in that building.

The first movie I saw in the Capital Six was "Raiders of the Lost Ark", which is still one of my all time favourites.

Many evenings spent in my youth at Johnny Zees circa roughly 1988 in that building.

I guess that means that the arcade next door will close now as well.

The Empire at University Heights will be next to close. Most likely still open because they can not get out of the lease without huge expense. They could shut down Capital 6 because they own the land and I would bet there is a secret deal in the works.

Could be a deal in the works but I don't think that the Government could possibly lease more space and they already lease everything that they have from the Jawl's!

Not sorry to see this DUMP gone.

https://www.youtube....h?v=S3zShjyaTr8

I wouldn't go that far, but the theatres all had pretty small screens, & the street level wasn't very transparent, creating a lousy relationship to the street. compare the atrium just across the street. atrium's sidewalk canopy & bioswales don't hurt either.

I guess that means that the arcade next door will close now as well.

The arcade is not in the theatre so no it is not closing the street level business are not owned by empire they are independent businesses renting space

The theatre property isn't in Chard's plans. David Chard also said “We’re proceeding with our own residential project with retail at grade that would front onto Yates and onto View...

So unless someone decides to re-invent the Empire as a theatre, or invest some signficant $$$ into renovating it for retail/office use, one suspects this space will sit mostly derelict for some time. Sad.

The ramp was always cool but I couldn't remember any specific movies I saw there. Then I remembered I saw Titanic there for the first time last year. & again for the next 3 tuesdays.

Moviegoers say goodbye to Capitol 6 on Victoria theatre’s last night
Michael D. Reid / Times Colonist
October 17, 2013 08:57 PM

The last picture show at the Empire Capitol 6 Thursday night was The Spectacular Now.

It was “the spectacular then,” however, that was on the minds of a small but passionate crowd of filmgoers who bid the multiplex farewell before it faded to black.

Empire Co. confirmed Wednesday that it is closing the Yates and Blanshard multiplex, a striking, domed brick-and-glass movie house that created a sensation when it opened in 1981 where the venerable Capitol Theatre had stood for 60 years.

“People are coming in with a big emotional reaction,” said a staffer who declined to be identified. “People want to remember how it was 15 years ago. It obviously doesn’t have the same grandeur as it did in the Famous Players days.”

http://www.timescolo...-night-1.663557

So unless someone decides to re-invent the Empire as a theatre, or invest some signficant $$$ into renovating it for retail/office use, one suspects this space will sit mostly derelict for some time. Sad.

Well, it sounds like the existing ground floor tenants will be staying for a while, so hopefully the building is kept in good condition. The glass dome gets coated in seagull crap and is cleaned at least twice a year, so hopefully they keep that up.

The reality is that it is a purpose built theatre, which means it would be quite difficult to renovate and repurpose. It's not a particularly nice building, so I suspect it will get torn down at some point when the right buyer comes along.

It doesn't look like anybody is going to step in and run it as a theatre, so it's just a waiting game now until someone has a vision for the land.

I hate to see businesses close, but it really was a bad theatre.

No more sleeping in the alcove...

 

A pretty serious and expensive install with what appears to be reflective mylar behind the bars - it looks a lot better than plywood.

 

 

 

Edited by Gary H, 23 May 2015 - 11:16 AM.