  Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 227 Registered: 03-2007 |
surprise no post on this. During thursdays Pistons game, Magic mentioned he's shopping for a Detroit location for his movie complex. He also mentioned having spoke with kwame about a particular downtown location. | ||
Archy Member Username: Archy Post Number: 40 Registered: 07-2004 |
The city has been shopping for a Magic Johnson theater for some...there was rumors about three years ago for one on the Hudson block...I'm not sure how serious talks really were. Correct me if I wrong though...doesn't Magic go into theaters that are depressed and rehab them...has he every built a new one from the ground up? A downtown or midtown movie theater would be quite cool. It should also spin off some business (retail an restaurants) | ||
Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 228 Registered: 03-2007 |
the one in la was built next to the hood mall off Crenshaw. Its almost identical to the strip mall on Grandriver and greenfield. he's also restoring the old section of the strip mall. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1091 Registered: 11-2003 |
How about the National Theatre? | ||
Downtown_remix Member Username: Downtown_remix Post Number: 229 Registered: 03-2007 |
it would be cool but the one in la has atleast 6 theaters,they could make the National lobby the main entry, then add several theaters on the Kern, Monroe block. | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2006 |
National Theatre would be amazing. From what we've heard from forumers the inside is nearly gutted which would have to take place anyway to put in a modern movie house. Also remember the Fine arts building is slated for a facade reuse. A multi level theatre might be great in that location. There is the ever present issue of parking. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 1131 Registered: 09-2004 |
Old MGM Site. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4411 Registered: 08-2004 |
Absolutely Sharmaal! I've been touting the temporary MGM site as a great site for a multiplex for quite some time now... It has the jazzy looks that would make for a great theatre multiplex (and more), as well as a parking deck next door. Since it is a multistory building, they could add a video arcade, and other high tech fun areas... even an IMAX if they wanted to. There is a high tech theatre & games complex in San Francisco known as the Metreon. Although not a complete success, the Magic Johnson Theatre complex could include many of the more successful parts of the Metreon. Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M etreon | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 839 Registered: 04-2006 |
He was rumored to be putting in a MJ Theater downtown 10 years ago... | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 236 Registered: 11-2003 |
Another rumor 10 years ago was the Jefferson and Chalmers area. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1259 Registered: 04-2006 |
How about on the site of the old Hudsons? It needs an anchor. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4417 Registered: 08-2004 |
Someone on this forum (I believe if I'm not mistaken that it was 3rdworldcity) posted a while back that because MGM is building a new permanent casino, whereas MotorCity and Greektown are expanding their temporary sites, that MGM was at a disadvantage as far as return on investments (ROI) goes. This is because they're spending something like $400 million more than each of the other 2 casinos. And that person also mentioned that the city signed an agreement allowing MGM to use the temporary Casino as a sort of MGM Annex. Well if that were the case, then a combination Magic Johnson Theatres along with "Metreon" type high tech game center AND a (restricted to adults) floor of gaming... well that would allow folks to gamble while the kids are downstair at a movie or in the high tech game center... thus eliminating the need for a baby sitter at home! Now that would be "family entertainment"!!  (Message edited by Gistok on May 28, 2007) | ||
Cgunn Member Username: Cgunn Post Number: 49 Registered: 01-2004 |
That does sound like fun. Simular to what they are doing at Luck's in Novi's Fountain Walk. Arcade, Bowling, dance club..etc. Would nice to have something like that downtown. | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 95 Registered: 10-2006 |
Gistok, Also sounds similar to a Dave & Busters. Theres one out on the East side on 59 and Vandyke (my unfortunate locale). Its pretty suburbia having a gaming centre. (d&b serves alcohol and all minors must be withing 10 feet of an adult at all times.) I dont know how this would fly out by MGM. Its still quite a distance from the CBD and without that all important mass trans I just dont see it being successful out there. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4420 Registered: 08-2004 |
OK Mdoyle, now you have me confused? I'm talking about turning the temporary MGM casino into the Magic Johnson Center plus gaming. That temporary site is next to the Lodge Freeway at Howard, which is IN the Central Business District. All someone has to do is get on their nearest Freeway and get to the southbound Lodge Fwy. and exit at Howard and you are there! And even folks taking the bus won't have too much of a problem. The soon to be constructed Rosa Parks Transit Center is only a few blocks away. (Message edited by Gistok on May 29, 2007) | ||
Mdoyle Member Username: Mdoyle Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yes never mind what I said. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1265 Registered: 02-2007 |
Mdoyle and Gistok, both of your comment are confusing. ONe's talking about D&B and one's talking about MGM. Sheesh, did y'all read each other's comment. What Mdoyle is saying is that people wouldn't be that pressed to come all the way downtown for that stuff when they have it right around the corner due to the lack of Transit where as Gistok is basically just suggesting that MGM is the perfect spot for a gaming center. Gistok-In order to have big stuff like that, you would need a residential base within the preriphery or whatever to support it. There isn't a big demand for that type of development yet. Mdoyle-The only reason D&B built way out there was because of the residential periphery and the income surrounding it and the amount of land. IT has nothing to do with transportation. People DRIVE from the city of Detroit to go there because of what they offer. Now, maybe if MGM can offer the same things D&B offers (maybe better) people from outside that income area will make the trip to the establishment (Mass Transit or not). It's all about the Attraction and Money, nothing else. If that was the case, people wouldn't stop going to Cedar Point or Avalanche Bay or whatever because the lack of TRansit. (Message edited by Urbanize on May 29, 2007) | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 842 Registered: 04-2006 |
Personally, I would rather see a MJ Theater go into a neighborhood. Not 8 Mile or downtown... I've actually never seen an MJ Theater not go into a neighborhood. Then again, I only know of two; the theater in LA and the one in Harlem. | ||
Smitch Member Username: Smitch Post Number: 13 Registered: 04-2007 |
This is was article was just in the Free Press. Looks like the mayor would like the movie theater downtown as well. Sorry link doesnt work. Free Press, Page 1 Magic words: Outwork everyone, over-deliver May 25, 2007 BY TOM WALSH Earvin (Magic) Johnson, pride of Lansing Everett High School, basketball legend with the Michigan State Spartans and Los Angeles Lakers and now business tycoon, wants to build a movie theater complex in Detroit -- and perhaps buy and grow a couple Michigan businesses with a new $500-million private equity fund he's about to launch. Johnson, 47, already owns four Starbucks coffee shops in Detroit and one in East Lansing, but that's just a small portion of his growing empire of 110 Starbucks, six movie theater complexes, 31 Burger King restaurants, a dozen 24-Hour Fitness centers and nearly $1 billion worth of real estate projects in urban markets across the country. "I tried to put a theater in Detroit when Dennis Archer was mayor," Johnson told me Thursday, "but there was confusion over where to put the casino location then. I've been talking to Mayor Kilpatrick; he'd like to see a cineplex downtown." Johnson stopped in Detroit on Thursday to share his entrepreneurship story with the first class of students at Bizdom U, the two-year boot camp program for budding urban entrepreneurs created by Dan Gilbert, founder of Livonia-based Quicken Loans and Rock Financial and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. Johnson quickly disabused the 11 (12) Bizdom U students of the notion that his post-athletic business career was easy because he was already rich and famous. Of the first 10 business people he approached about partnering with him, he said, "all 10 wanted my autograph, but none would invest any money with me. They all thought I was a dumb jock." And the Magic man admitted that his first business venture was a flop. "It was a sports paraphernalia store in L.A.," he said. "I put in $100,000, and I was the owner, the buyer, everything. I went out and bought 10 of this, 50 of that, came back and put it all in the store, and nothing sold for a month. "I had gone out and bought everything that I liked," he said, "not what the customers liked." It was a $100,000 lesson, he said, to always make his business about the customer and to do good research beforehand. His later businesses have been successful, he said, because he chose good partners, did diligent research, hired good people and worked like crazy. "Business is about outworking everybody else," Johnson said. "I hire no clock-watchers. "To be successful, you must over-deliver, because in today's business world just delivering isn't good enough." When a student asked him if he harbors dreams of owning a pro basketball team -- he currently has a 5% stake in the Lakers -- Johnson said he once did. "But now I love the wheeling and dealing, touching communities, putting 25,000 minorities to work in urban America. That's better than owning a team," he said. "For now." Bizdom U, currently located at Wayne State University but not affiliated with the university, is now recruiting a second class of 20 students for its two-year program to start this fall. To apply or learn more, visit www.bizdom.com. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1267 Registered: 02-2007 |
"Personally, I would rather see a MJ Theater go into a neighborhood. Not 8 Mile or downtown..." That would never work you know, not in this city. | ||
Toog05 Member Username: Toog05 Post Number: 144 Registered: 03-2006 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=2007705250424 | ||
Smitch Member Username: Smitch Post Number: 14 Registered: 04-2007 |
Thanks Toog05 for the link | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2622 Registered: 10-2003 |
It seems not even the mayor knows there is already movie theatre downtown. quote: I guess the riverfront 4 in the Ren-cen doesn't count. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1269 Registered: 02-2007 |
"I guess the riverfront 4 in the Ren-cen doesn't count." a cine(PLEX), not a friendly neighborhood Moviehouse. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2623 Registered: 10-2003 |
Last time I checked a cineplex is any movie theatre with more than 1 screen. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/ cineplex | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4423 Registered: 08-2004 |
Urbanize, never mind Mdoyle's discussions about a suburban playland... I've been to that one. Have you even been to a Detroit Casino? You know not everyone there is from the Suburubs! Don't you think that it is possible that a Magic Johnson Movie Theatre complex with some gaming space AND high tech toys could be successful even if only city residents go there? I concur that suburban kids would probably stay out in the burbs at their own playlands... unless the downtown location had some really unique "toys". But there's no reason that Detroiters can't have their own "playland" as well as a Magic Johnson Multiplex. After all a residential base of 850,000 (with hardly any theatres) is nothing to sneeze at, even if only half of them have the disposable income to enjoy the facility. Now granted, what they ought to do is what they do at the Fox now... everyone goes thru a metal detector before entering the building. Just to protect the public. (Message edited by Gistok on May 29, 2007) | ||
Waxx Member Username: Waxx Post Number: 182 Registered: 09-2006 |
I'm thinkin' positive on this MJ theater thing. Downtown or New Center would be appropiate locations. We need SOMETHING 2 bring this city back 2 the splendor it 1nce had! I've visited Chicago, Cleveland, Wisconsin Dells in recent years and those cities are moving up BIG TIME. It seems like we're the only city in the US that's moving down-despite recent renovations and improvements-instead of up. But every time someone wants to invest something in Detroit, despite the fact that most of us do have valid reason(s) to complain, we always jump to the negative and discourage the action. Like Gistok mentioned, '....there's NO reason why Detroiters shouldn't have their their own playfield....' Just thinkin' out loud as well as positive. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 621 Registered: 01-2006 |
I second the motion about a theater/game thing at the MGM site. I'm thinking something like the "playdium" just outside of Toronto would be cool. It's designed with games that are enjoyed by both kids and adults. http://www.playdium.com/ |
