34 replies to this topic

[Fort Worthology]

The Citizen Theater
Location: Near Southside - Magnolia Avenue, between Fairmount and 7th
Owner: Amy McNutt, owner of Spiral Diner
Architect: Joe Self, Firm 817
Interior Designer: Kara Keith (interior designer of The Usual bar)

Newly revealed is the Citizen Theater, the new independent art house theater from Amy McNutt, owner of Spiral Diner. The Citizen will feature two screens, a 100% vegan snack bar powered by Spiral Diner, an upstairs lounge, and classic theater style with a modern edge. It will replace the vacant lot currently on the site (across Magnolia from Benito's, across 7th from Ellerbe Fine Foods, and across Fairmount from Jim's Lock and Safe, and just a block down from Spiral Diner on Magnolia). The Citizen will showcase independent and art house films, as well as classics from the vaults of cinema history.

Web site: http://thecitizentheater.com
Blog: http://thecitizentheater.com/blog

I've got more/bigger renderings on the site now: http://fortwortholog...eater-revealed/ - the rendering above is a preliminary one and the final version will be more detailed and lively (less "monolithic" as Amy put it), but it gives a good idea of the shape it's taking. I particularly like the sign - gotta love the Art Deco phoenix on top. This should be a fantastic addition to the Near Southside, and will finally bring a real art house theater to Fort Worth (as well as marking the return of a movie theater to Magnolia after the Tivoli was demolished decades ago).

Construction starts later this year.

[BlueMound]

Fantastic. The Citizen will be awesome.

[Volare]

Anyone still holding their breath on this one?

[Austin55]

Can't say I am. Maybe a similar idea will come along when the time and economy are right. 

[mmmdan]

There was a blurb on this in the paper over the weekend.  They own the land and are waiting to get a few more investors on board.

[Doohickie]

I think Magnolia is heating up.  Something will go in there soon.  If the Citizen can't get their ducks in a row, I bet someone will offer them a nice sum for the land and put something else there.

[Volare]

There was a blurb on this in the paper over the weekend.  They own the land and are waiting to get a few more investors on board.

 

Can you provide a link to that? I can't find it. I had considered investing a small sum with them a few years ago when they were just getting going...

[mmmdan]

Turns out it was in the dfw.com insert.  I couldn't find it the other day, otherwise I would have included the link.

 

http://www.dfw.com/2...-filmmaker.html

[Doohickie]

This statement sounds like someone in denial when I read it:  “It’s absolutely still happening.”

 

It could be just his manner of speech, but it comes across to me that with the phrase "absolutely still" he's trying to convince both the reporter and himself.

 

I hope he does get there.

[Fort Worthology]

Having known James for years, I really don't think that's how it's meant at all.  I just think he and Amy are really, really busy and this sort of thing takes a long time even in the best case.

[Doohickie]

It could just as easily be his style of speech and I'm reading too much into it.

[Austin55]

We are just trained to filter out the BS from all the professional BS'ers. This guy (James) sounds genuine, then.

[McHand]

What's going to be shown here? Films that we normally have to go to Mockingbird Station or The Modern for? That would be nice. If the films they feature are too obscure, I'm afraid it would end up like Ryan's, closed without enough customers to support it.

[mmiller2002]

Yeah, we need somethng better than the Modern's "auditorium." Its a lecture hall.

 

Something close to Dallas's Magnolia, Inwood, Angelica.

[Doohickie]

What's going to be shown here?

 

My snarky answer is movies you wouldn't take your kids to.  However, I think they may end up showing some youth-appropriate films... at least if they're smart.  Fairmount and the Southside does have a lot of families.  How could would it be show a Saturday matinee with classic kids' films, including old-time serials?

[Fort Worthology]

The Citizen would definitely be about the kind of movies one would normally find at the Magnolia or the Angelika, and the Modern.  I also know that James and Amy have talked about a lot more variety, though - like showing vintage films and such.

[JBB]

Had an experience last night that drove home for me the need for an independent, art house theater along the lines of The Magnolia or the Angelika in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County.

 

My wife and I wanted to see Inside Llewyn Davis and it is only playing at 2 theaters in the area: the Angelika in Plano and The Magnolia in West Village.  We opted for Magnolia.  I've been before and it is a top notch theater: reserved seating, leather reclining seats, a bar, beer and wine service at the concession stand, and a movie we couldn't see anywhere else.  

 

While I like the West Village and the drive over wasn't much farther, I would have preferred going to FW for my movie watching experience.

[John T Roberts]

Fort Worth South is now reporting that this property is for sale. 

 

http://www.fortworth...perty-listings/

[mmmdan]

My wife had mentioned to me some time ago that they were no longer going to be using that property.  The theater is still supposed to be happening.  Don't know where the new location is planned to be.

[Fort Worthology]

They announced this in November, in fact - they're selling the property because plans for the theater have grown, and the land is too small.  They're looking for a larger Southside location.

[Doohickie]

I would think the property would have sold by now; it's a prime location (maybe they're asking too much?)

[Fort Worthology]

There's a sign up on the property advertising a new development coming soon, so it appears they sold the property at some point this year.

[jsfslls]

My first post!

 

Not sure this fits into this forum, but I think the new development coming is Bentley's, a craft hot dog restaurant.

 

http://www.dfw.com/2...w-menu-and.html

[John T Roberts]

I read Eats Beat in the paper on Friday, but it didn't register with me that Bentley's would be in a new building.  I thought they would just open up within an existing space.

[Doohickie]

Oh right.  I just hope I won't have to pay $15 for a "craft" hot dog (whatever that is).

[renamerusk]

My first post!

 

Not sure this fits into this forum, but I think the new development coming is Bentley's, a craft hot dog restaurant.

 

Welcome to the Forum jsfslls. 

 

Having consumed my share of hot dogs, the clear cut winner is Nathans of New York over Chicago's Vienna.

[Austin55]

A hot dog place, that's pretty cool. Curious to see how the building comes out. Good for Magnolia. 

So the next quesiton is, where is the Citizens theater going to find its home?

[Fort Worthology]

As I understand it, the Bentley's is going in to the little building west of Ellerbe.  The vacant lot that was going to be the Citizen has a sign on it advertising another development.

[Doohickie]

Having consumed my share of hot dogs, the clear cut winner is Nathans of New York over Chicago's Vienna.

I prefer Vienna, myself.

[McHand]

They announced this in November, in fact - they're selling the property because plans for the theater have grown, and the land is too small.  They're looking for a larger Southside location.

 

Really? Source?

We've been waiting for a decade to see some dirt turn, but now it'll be that much longer because they outgrew the space that they didn't develop in the first place? 

 

Edit: Waiting half a decade. 

 

Edit 2: Found the source - a FB post from November.  November! 

 

There are myriad vacant lots on the Southside.  I can envision 2 on Hemphill as I type this.  

And there's always The Berry.  

I hope we hear something soon.

[RD Milhollin]

 

They announced this in November, in fact - they're selling the property because plans for the theater have grown, and the land is too small.  They're looking for a larger Southside location.

 

And there's always The Berry.  

 

 

 

Sweet! Great Idea.

[JBB]

When a project like this languishes as long as this one has, that's usually a pretty strong indication that there's money problems. Like a lack of money.

[Doohickie]

 

 

They announced this in November, in fact - they're selling the property because plans for the theater have grown, and the land is too small.  They're looking for a larger Southside location.

 

And there's always The Berry.  

 

 

 

Sweet! Great Idea.

 

 

Indeed.  There's even a restaurant attached to the building.  I think it would give a tremendous boost to that area and probably spread the Fairmount magic to the other side of the tracks.

[John T Roberts]

The new mixed-use project is going back before the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission this month.  It is the first case listed in Fairmount.  Below is the link to all of the Fairmount cases on the agenda.

 

http://fortworthtexa...t_Southside.pdf

[Urbndwlr]

I dont think Citizen had/has $ problems. 

They didnt fit on that site next to Ellerbe and had to find another place to go.

Based on what I've seen around the Near South Side, the property prices have gotten so crazy that its harder to make cool, adventurous stuff like this happen when buildings and land asking prices are elevated. 
Hopefully this doesnt mean it can't be done on the South Side.