Reading Cinemas Town Square in Clairemont is set to permanently close this spring, marking another loss for San Diego's movie theater landscape.Ìý
The impending closure of Reading Cinemas Town Square theater, confirmed in a recent notice filed with the state, leaves Clairemont without a neighborhood cinema, with the nearest theaters now being The Lot and AMC in La Jolla. The 14-screen theater, located in Clairemont Town Square, has been a staple in the community, screening a mix of mainstream blockbusters, Oscar-nominated films, and international features. However, the theater's parent company, Reading International, cited the loss of its lease as the reason for shutting down the location.
The closure will affect 33 employees, some of whom will remain on board through the end of April to assist with winding down operations. According to Reading International’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice, affected employees may be offered transfers to other locations within a 50-mile radius.
Reading International, which also operates Reading Cinemas Grossmont in La Mesa and Angelika Film Center in Carmel Mountain, has seen its presence in San Diego shrink in recent years. The company previously operated an upscale Reading Cinemas in the Gaslamp Quarter, which closed in 2016. San Diego has seen other theater closures recently, including the shutdown of Landmark Cinemas in Hillcrest, which had long been a destination for independent film lovers.
The closure of Reading Cinemas Town Square reflects broader struggles in the movie theater industry. The COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood strikes, and the rise of streaming services have significantly impacted theater attendance. Inflation has also made the cost of movie tickets and concessions a factor in declining audience numbers, as many consumers opt for at-home viewing.
The Clairemont Town Square property, owned by Merlone Geier Management, has housed Reading Cinemas since 2016. It remains unclear what will take over the 40,500-square-foot theater space following the closure. For now, Clairemont residents looking for the big-screen experience will need to travel outside the neighborhood, as another chapter in San Diego’s movie theater history comes to a close.
Reading Cinemas Town Square will close on April 15, 2025, atÌý4665 Clairemont Drive in San Diego's Clairemont neighborhood. For more information, visitÌý.
