WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – After closing the Palace 9 and the ROXY in Burlington, Owner Merrill Jarvis is investing in the Majestic 10 Cinema.
“I’m going to put my heart and soul into here – everyone come to the movies,” said Jarvis.
His next move is serving beer and wine, which the town of Williston unanimously approved a license for Saturday morning.
“This is just another way of gaining some revenue, and we want to show the customers the most incredible experience that you can have at a theater. There’s a lot of create-your-own comforts at home, but we’re going to have even better ones here,” said Jarvis.
Most of his customers are on board they are still saddened by his other two theaters closing.
“I think anything that brings out more folks to the movies. It’s good for our community, good for the theater. We’ve lost theaters and really don’t want to see this one lost,” said Stephanie Miraglia of South Burlington.
Some customers I spoke to didn’t want to be on camera, but they expressed concern for the experience that some young children might have watching a movie with tipsy adults namely, swearing and the smell.
Chastity Delibac of Burlington is a mother of 5 and doesn’t drink. She supports the idea because the theater screens movies aimed at adults, too.
“It’s really no different than going to a restaurant. I mean, you’re going to sit down to watch a movie — no different than sitting down and eating. I don’t have a problem with it,” said Delibac.
Another parent, Farryl Bertmann, said it’s important to bring generations together.
“I think that we live in a society where we shouldn’t be isolating different generations, so we should be having people interact with different generations and learning how to enjoy moderation and see that different people are enjoying their free time in different ways,” said Farryl Bertmann of South Burlington.
She does, however, look forward to other upgrades which Jarvis isn’t sharing yet.
“Some people like me, who don’t drink, are also looking for the other types of comfort, like recliners and an exciting time for a girls’ night out,” said Bertmann.
“When you are in a full theater and everyone is laughing it makes it even funnier its a joined experience,” said Jarvis.
Movie-goers 21 and older will be able to liven up their experience at Majestic 10 by next year.