MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A beloved Macomb County movie landmark is dimming its lights for the last time.
The Romeo Theatre, a family-owned two-screen cinema in Washington Township, announced on Facebook it will close its doors in mid-September after 40 years in the business.
Owners cited COVID-19 fallout, industry strikes and the rise of streaming services.
“While we have proudly served this community for the last 40 years, we are heartbroken to share that the Romeo Theatre will close its doors in mid-September,” the owner wrote on Facebook. “We had hoped our 40th year would be more celebratory, but we are grateful for the years we spent bringing entertainment to the community while staying true to our focus on family values.”
Decades of memories
For generations of families, the theater has been the setting for first movies, first dates and lifelong traditions.
Shannon Kuehnel said the news hit hard.
“I was really surprised when I heard about it, because it’s been open since I was a kid,” Kuehnel said.
Her memories stretch back to the theater’s earliest days.
“I remember seeing reruns of Jaws here when it opened and Taxi Driver,” she said.
Resident Stephanie Zimmerman echoed that sentiment.
“It’s sad. It’s been a staple in the community the whole time I’ve lived here — it’s good popcorn and wonderful people — so sad to see it go,” Zimmerman said.
COVID, strikes, streaming take their toll
The owners explained in their Facebook post that a year-long shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the actors’ and writers’ strikes, left the theater with limited film availability for roughly 18 months. Even with support from property owners, business never returned to pre-COVID levels.
“Since COVID, moviegoers’ habits have shifted toward streaming and premium on-demand options,” the owner wrote. “We have seen this change at the Romeo Theatre, and theatres nationwide have experienced similar attendance declines.”
The property owners are expected to bring in a new business to fill the space — but it will not be a theater.
Community responds
The announcement drew hundreds of comments online, including a message from the Washington Township supervisor.
“The Romeo Theatre has been so much more than a movie theatre — it has been part of the fabric of our community for 40 years,” the supervisor wrote.
Resident Carol Pelletier said the loss will be felt for years to come.
“It’s going to be a place that’s going to be missed here in town,” Pelletier said.
And for many, the theater’s famous popcorn holds a special place — right alongside the movies themselves.
“The popcorn, of course, is to die for,” Pelletier said.
The owners did leave the door open — at least a crack — for popcorn fans.
“Perhaps someday we will pop up around the community with our popcorn machine, offering delicious Romeo Theatre Popcorn-To-Go,” he wrote.