In 1938, the San Marco movie theater opened its doors. A theater in the heart of the San Marco Square, it offered food, movies, and a good time. The theater has been a staple in the neighborhood, and its memorable architecture allows us to picture it now.

The theater has gone through several owners in the past 84 years. In 2019, former owner David Blue sold the business to Frank Sanchez, Andrew Oetjen, and brothers Ryan and Jonathan Davis. The four were San Marco residents, and Oetjen was formerly the manager of the movie theater.

The most recent handoff in owners happened in late 2022 when the business was sold to TSG Realty company. TSG has yet to make their plans for the building clear, but many locals hope they keep the structure that has become incredibly recognizable.

On December 28th, 2022, the San Marco Movie Theater Facebook announced it would be finished showing movies at the start of the new year. Owners and locals say this was a long time coming, and both COVID-19 and new streaming platforms made the last two years particularly challenging. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu have dramatically damaged the industry everywhere. When was the last time you went to see a movie in a theater? Now, when was the last time you saw one in your own home?

On December 31st, 2022, the historic theater officially closed its doors.