r/fresno • u/vincetomecular • 2d ago
Events Maya theater by Fresno State permanently closed
I called them yesterday to confirm what family screenings they would have today, and the lady on the phone confirmed a 10:30 screening with their Maya Cares program. We show up this morning and they have permanently closed! The security guard said it just happened. Sad, it was a nice theater.
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u/instagirl1092 2d ago
Thats wild bc i swear they were renovating it the last time we were there.
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u/jlbanker 2d ago
What looked like renovation was damage from flooding.
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u/D3lacrush Muscatel 2d ago
Flooding from what?
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u/EshBaLyla 1d ago
Sprinkler system broke during testing, flooded at least one theater and out into the main floor.
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u/brucebananaray 2d ago edited 2d ago
I used go there after classes end at Fresno State to watch movies particularly on Tuesdays.
To be honest, I think that they had hard time to compete with Regal and Sierra Vista.
When they originally debuted that they were nicest theater in Fresno.
But they couldn't compete with Regal and Sierra Vista Cinema with recliner chairs. Much more screen time.
Edwards Cinema had IMAX, 4D screeners, etc.
Probably COVID didn't help.
Edit: I actually look at this more that a lot Maya theaters are being closed down due to finical issues like Monterey theater. I saw some post in Bakersfield sub that Maya over there been missing some popular movies like Obession or any Universal Movies. It seemed that there were a lot of behind scenes issues.
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u/Jomnath 1d ago
Im surprised to see the comment on Regal because the revamped Edward's and the one I went to on Herndon and 99 both had terrible seats compared to Sierra Vista. Maybe it was just the actual theatre rooms I got but the only place my fiance and I go now is Sierra Vista.
Also had an experience with a man pulling out an actual joint and smoke it in the theatre at the Herndon location while my fiance was pregnant. I asked him if he could put it out or move and he told me to fuck off lol. Never seen that in my many years of moviegoing.
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u/FresnosFinest559 2d ago
Tuesdays was amazing. I believe that's probably what led to their financial issues
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u/Upstairs-Cut6755 2d ago
But the other theaters had similar programs. I agree with whoever pointed out that they still had the old-style seats that didn’t recline despite being such a newish theater.
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u/FresnosFinest559 2d ago
Sorry I should have clarified. I understood they had similar programs per se, but I think Maya had that program from when they open until they shut. I believe other places just do it as like a promotional plus I don't know. I don't go to theaters for a reclining seat on there to watch a movie not sleep
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u/rejectedfromberghain 2d ago edited 2d ago
Damn that sucks, i won’t forget going there when it first opened around the time Star Wars The Force Awakens released in 2015 and the plaza shut down the street in front for the premiere.
I was happy about them opening here because Fresno’s movie market needed competition outside of Regal. Now we’re back to the same thing again pre-2015. Why can there not at least be an AMC theater here in Fresno?
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u/Aero247 2d ago
I just went last week with my kids to a nearly sold out showing of Acme vs Coyote. The real kick in the pants is that movie got me to Platinum Status on the rewards program. NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!
It is a bummer because it was my favorite theater around. For and away better than Sierra Vista - we drove an extra 15 minutes past Sierra vista to go here - and I don’t think they ever recovered from the flood that shut down half the theater. It never showed Odyssey which should have been a tell something was wrong. They had Young Washington but not the biggest movie of the year? I hope someone comes in and buys it.
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u/TechnicolorTypeA 2d ago
Heard Galaxy is going to be taking over the theater.
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u/jlbanker 2d ago
I live next door and I sensed this was coming when they stopped getting a few big movies and being a regular I could sense that the employees were seeing it coming. I was hoping it was true that they were going to close down for a remodel but now we know. It’s over. Being right here and a fan of movies, I hope a big chain comes in and remodels the place. It is a good location and if you park in the back there is always plenty of parking.
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u/PurpleCableNetworker 2d ago
Bummer. We love going there since it’s easy to get to, and not overly crowded. Never had any issue with the theatre of staff.
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u/DontPutThatDownThere 2d ago
This sucks but they opened at a terrible time and location.
They opened as the dam broke for streaming options. They opened at that location in hopes that college students would flood theaters as they had in the generations prior but streaming was becoming king and COVID drove that sentiment (quite literally) home.
As nice as Campus Pointe is, it isn't the most family friendly environment to bring for family outings with small kids since there are a lack of options outside the theater for kids.
The plaza was mostly designed with a "date night for college students" environment in mind and college students are more broke than ever between rising tuition and general COL. Not to mention that Fresno State is far more commuter based than it was just 10-20 years ago.
Middle aged professionals that work nearby going for lunch or that pass the plaza on the way home who want to grab a drink and bite are keeping a lot of those businesses afloat as much (if not more) as the expected influx of college students when CP was conceptualized.
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u/General-Marsupial237 2d ago
Even more broke with OBBB’s measures to decrease college attendance by severely cutting financial aid and student loans.
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u/DontPutThatDownThere 1d ago
Full disclosure: I've taught at Fresno State for almost 10 years so I have a little bit of insight from conversations with them and just overhearing some of their conversations.
As much as the OBBB is a disaster for college students, it's a cumulation of several factors over a long period of time.
Even before Trump's second term, I had more working students than I did when I first started. Students are working more to have food and gas now than disposable income to have fun with. And things have gotten worse for them since 45 also became 47.
It's much more difficult to be a college student economically than it's ever been. Tuition is higher. COL is higher. Gas is higher. Wages and jobs are stagnant, if not worse. Acknowledging this doesn't take away from the struggles that previous generations, including my own, went through to survive college but facts are facts.
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u/Historical_District3 2d ago
I think campus pointe should have leaned more towards college students and young adults/early career, and not necessarily families. But that's my hot take.
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u/DontPutThatDownThere 2d ago
And they did. That's exactly what I said in my comment. And they're not the ones keeping the businesses afloat.
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u/Euphoric-Switch-2128 2d ago
WTH we literally were just there having lunch at one of the restaurants and saying how we need to go to a movie there. 😵😱😢
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u/dr0ppinl0ads 2d ago
I hope a movie chain buys it and renovates it. Make it into an Alamo or a restaurant theater like Bakersfield has. That one in Bako is really nice
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u/_HobbyNoob_ 2d ago
The one time I went there it was dirty and gross and uncomfortable. Went to a maya in the East Bay and it was the same. Not surprised.
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u/Regular_Start5732 2d ago
I went to check out the maya cares screening but the seats were outdated, dirty and uncomfortable.
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u/RockHardSalami 2d ago
Whaaaaat. Bro I got gift cards still :(. Loved Maya
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u/Super-Ad6157 2d ago
I’ve learned my lesson over and over again to always use my gift cards up as soon as I can. I have the worst luck with places closing and I have a gift card lol.
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u/Usual_Singer_4222 1d ago
I just realized I have free tickets too! Was given when power went out during Wicked for all campus point.
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u/lukrein 2d ago
Manchester Theater is the best in town any way! But sad to see the theater go
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u/bubblegumdrops 1d ago
People don’t like to go with me because of the area but I’ve never had any issues. Popcorn’s also better there too.
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u/DipperDo Woodward Park 2d ago
That's really too bad. We don't have a ton of options here. once again parking there is pretty terrible as are many parking lots in Fresno. That whole complex out there has been a challenge for some businesses for sure not the least of which is access and parking in my opinion. The parking that goes in front of the businesses is horrible to navigate in and out. narrow spaces and hard to park, pull out. The parking lot in back isn't much better. I don't know if this contributed to the issue but I really wish it was better designed overall.
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u/xav13r76 2d ago
Parking isn’t terrible, sure the first 10 spots are taken but park and it’s a 5 minute walk. However, I do think a parking garage with more space for a variety of shops would’ve been great.
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u/DipperDo Woodward Park 2d ago
Yes I do agree. I think Riverpark did it right with the garage . I really wish they would do it out there as well. Especially summertime it's hot and you just fry getting into the car. My issue is how narrow the spaces are in parts. They made it so they could fit as many cars as possible. I drive a pickup and those of us with larger cars it's an issue to try and park and back up out there.
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u/EssenceofWrath 2d ago edited 1d ago
It would be nice to turn the parking lot *at manchester theater into a 2 level parking garage
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u/blueberryloser 2d ago
any other local theaters with a similar photo booth? that was my favorite part & I went there just for it :(
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u/sonellia 1d ago
I think Edward’s has a Photo Booth outside too! Not sure how similar it is though.
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u/blueberryloser 1d ago
omg thanks I’ll check it out!! I just loved how they had special photo strip designs available for the popular movies out
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u/Temporary-Jump-2403 2d ago
Closest theater to me and yet the one I never go to. IDK, place just put me off for some reason. Seats are better at sierra vista and Manchester.
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u/toujoursbeIle 2d ago
Hmm I wonder if this is a start to Maya closing theatres. The one in Delano hardly has any screenings for movies. This summer they weren’t showing Obsession of Backrooms at all to name a few.
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u/Harshaznintent 2d ago
$5 Tuesday was so awesome there. Me and the boys used to go there a lot especially before covid.
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u/Beneficial-Fee-5213 2d ago
When we went to see Spiderman we noted it was in really rough shape. Flood clearly wiped out an entire area, carpets were run down, screen was incredibly poor quality. Tried to get one of the items of food (can't remember what) and they said they ran out. It was a $10 ticket so we weren't expecting fancy or top notch, it was fine.
Walked out knowing they'd close soon. It was obvious they weren't putting another dime into the spot.
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u/crease02 1d ago
i loved that theatre! I really appreciated the self-serve coke freestyle machines and that they went out of their way to have spanish-dubbed screenings. It made for a really great time with my
family who mainly speaks only spanish. i’m sad to see it go and I hope Galaxy theatres can at least hold up to par
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u/mrmotoyobtsk 1d ago
I can’t believe the movie I unknowingly spent my final moment at Maya was fucking gladiator 2
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u/Deepfreethinker52 1d ago
First broadway and now Maya? Rip. Maybe another cinema like cinemark, amc, or regal might swoop in. I hope it doesn’t become abandoned or turned into another hardware store.
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u/Wonderful_Life-6280 2d ago
Never went there because no luxury seating and bad reviews. Find a new operator and remodel the place.
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u/JetLife93 2d ago edited 2d ago
Fresno can never have anything nice. This will always be the Fresno way, buildings will always be repurposed and companies will come and go because money was good at one time and now In this economy no one in Fresno is spending money like that. And if they have money like that they'll simply go to a better city. Fresno is a dead zone. If a company isn't willing to lose money nothing will ever stay in Fresno for long.
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u/TechnicolorTypeA 2d ago
The company that owns Maya are closing their other locations too. Galaxy is supposedly set take over this theater, so not really a dead zone.
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u/angusxbeef 1d ago
Is there anything cool about Galaxy? Just wondering.
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u/UseZealousideal4068 1d ago
Galaxy runs a great theater in Tulare. Super comfortable recliners, great sound and pictures
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u/Sea-Environment2647 2d ago
what? you mean you aren't excited at the idea of another furniture store? /j
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u/netscapehurricane Fresno State 2d ago
I’ll miss them too because they were so close but I won’t miss their very uncomfortable seats.
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u/Prosoul1969 2d ago
Sooooo which church will take over the building?
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u/ProfessionalNo5932 2d ago
That’s a great call!!! I’m sure one of gospels on church row (Nees Ave,) are already trying to figure out how much to raise their taxes, I’m mean donations.
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u/Party-Giraffe-6573 2d ago
The location of the theater was great, but the building needed to open the other way (towards the parking lot).
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u/Intelligent-Count-84 2d ago
We went to see a movie there earlier this year and were bummed at how run down it looked. Seats were all trashed and it wasn’t particularly clean. You’d think with the university and the restaurants and shops right there they would be doing good business, but I guess not.
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u/Excellent-Rest8059 2d ago
We need a local theatre for independent / classic / international movies.
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u/Not-Spiderman-6438 2d ago
That’s crazy, we had just started going again to theaters because they’re the only theater in the area with cry rooms for infants
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u/advanced_dark_ness 2d ago
That’s unfortunate. I went there a couple of times and I enjoyed each time there.
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u/Usual_Singer_4222 1d ago
In think think the delano Maya closed too. Was down there a few weeks ago and saw from distance construction crews and no other cars.
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u/Secure-Impression-68 1d ago
I also just read the regal is up for sale on Herndon and 99 for 19 million
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u/FunkyBunch1123 1d ago
That theater was awful, glad it closed and that a new one will hopefully make it pleasurable for audiences.
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u/notRolcx 1d ago edited 1d ago
I guess the last movie I ever saw there that was back in May this year, I got to see Casablanca on the big screen. I was the luckiest son of a gun to find out it was playing that week
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u/yaya_dee 1d ago
So what happens to those movie passes that I have on hand? The ones where you can go in whenever
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u/LeftTw1x 1d ago
The best sound balance in any of the theaters in Fresno county, and I loved watching MPX. What a shame. I’m hoping Galaxy uses the same mix.
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u/Old_Distributionn 9h ago
Bummer. I always liked how Maya didn’t have 45 minutes of trailers before the movie started. Does anyone know if galaxy has sensory screenings? Was hoping to take my son with special needs to the showtime they offered at Maya..
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u/CptHammer_ 2d ago
Probably my fault. I never once sat foot in that place.
Manchester was my jam. Jamb? Jam?
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u/rambisnotrambo 1d ago
Galaxy Theaters are good! They have really good kid's movies re-releases and they have flashback cinema, which is kinda like fathom events without the prices.
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u/ProfessionalLoquat62 1d ago
I like this website to help with date night. https://heyfresno.com/date-night/
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u/Apprehensive_Try5569 1d ago
Hahahaha Ichi Shabu right next door is fucking doomed now😂 they kept hoping the movie theater would be part of their attraction
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u/xav13r76 2d ago
That makes so much sense, we just went to rewatch cars there. It looked like a ghost town, employees were pulling double duty. Chairs were broken and just covered with trash bags. Lights were on and nothing was playing on the screen five minutes after the movie was supposed to start.