Screen wars: Pittsfield or mall?

Mourningside wrote:

With taxi fair and four kids, buttered popcorn (wipe grease on seats), figure it will cost about 70 dollars. Or I can get Netflix and Orvilles (wipe grease with toilet tissue) and cost, about 7 dollars.

They will accept your EBT card and you can use a taxi voucher. If you bring your own snacks it's all FREE.

It's hilarious that so many on these threads are expressing concern about possible neerdowells on North Street when the real thieves are ensconced in that marble building on Allen Street robbing Pittsfield taxpayers blind with bloated city budgets, wasteful spending, and unnecessarily high taxes.

pat the painter wrote:

<quoted text>
I thought the hookers worked out of City Hall?

Only the white ones.

Just wanted to write and say how excited I am about the Beacon finally opening! I respect the people's opinions in the article that was posted here, but I think the Beacon is going to be huge for people who just generally love movies. As someone who went to school for film and video production, I'm so pumped for this. Finally a chance to see smaller, indie films, foreign films and maybe even the possibility for some local film makers to showcase their talent. The parking issue that people are having reservations about, there is the garage right behind the place people! Then all you have to do is walk across the street! Also, FINALLY a theater locally with stadium seating, the theaters should be and the chance to get to see 3D movies with out having to travel to Albany or Springfield. So to wrap this up, I think the Beacon is going to be a great addition to downtown Pittsfield and the residents of Berkshire County should be all about supporting a place like this!

Wow, just have to say I don't think there will be hookers outside of the movie theater. Also I sped many of my evenings on North St. at the Mission Bar, and I have never been solicited by a hooker! As for food, Bennigans? Really? Because chain food is so much better then the options you have on North St. You have Jae's Spice, that despite popular beliefs has many fairly priced dishes, Hot Harrys, the Press Box and Patrick's for great pub food! To me it's a no brainer. Who cares about the shopping stores as well! If I'm going to a movie, what the hell do I need stores for? I'm going to watch a movie not shop! That should add no points to saying the mall is better then the beacon. Next note, unfortunately due to our current economic climate there are more people than usual un-employed and possibly homelss, every city has that! If the are out and about soliciting for money and it bothers you then ignore them, they are not violent people, they are just trying to get by the best they can. My number one to go to the beacon over the mall, is the fact on the weekends, you have to fight your way through a crowd of young teenagers and preteens with fowl language swarming the food court who are they to do nothing but walk around and from personal experience from working at the mall, cause problems. I would much rather be walking into a movie and have a homeless person ask me for a couple bucks, than walk by a group of 13 yr olds, talking about sex, who they are going to fight, screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs and on top of that asking me to buy them cigarettes!!! So I will finish my maybe not so nicely put together rant with, that it should be a no brainer that the beacon will be a much nicer place to go enjoy a movie than our horribly put together mall

I sure hope the Beacon Cinema is successul after all our tax dollars gave it 1.5 million directly and another 1 million through community development grant. Stanley states that annual sales will be approx 2 million. What is the earnings estimate? Could it be 10%? If so that would be better than any cinema complex I know. Given a 10% earnings on $2 million sales, that would be $200k profit per year. With a $23 million investment, the pay back is 115 years. It is a good thing that the Eagle reported today that "Ruberto said he hasn't put the projections through an economic fomula" Now we know why !

We live in north county and with the North Adams movie theater closed I'd be willing to try out the Beacon. But one subject everyone has seemed to miss...will it be less expensive than the mall? I have kids,(sorry smarta**es we're not on welfare), and it takes more than a day's pay to take them to the movies with popcorn and drinks.

Jimmy G I thought you only stayed home and watched your porn movies Maybe you can get a job at the Beacon.. Or maybe your to lazzzy to work...

Chris Peterson wrote:

Wow, just have to say I don't think there will be hookers outside of the movie theater. Also I sped many of my evenings on North St. at the Mission Bar, and I have never been solicited by a hooker! As for food, Bennigans? Really? Because chain food is so much better then the options you have on North St. You have Jae's Spice, that despite popular beliefs has many fairly priced dishes, Hot Harrys, the Press Box and Patrick's for great pub food! To me it's a no brainer. Who cares about the shopping stores as well! If I'm going to a movie, what the hell do I need stores for? I'm going to watch a movie not shop! That should add no points to saying the mall is better then the beacon. Next note, unfortunately due to our current economic climate there are more people than usual un-employed and possibly homelss, every city has that! If the are out and about soliciting for money and it bothers you then ignore them, they are not violent people, they are just trying to get by the best they can. My number one to go to the beacon over the mall, is the fact on the weekends, you have to fight your way through a crowd of young teenagers and preteens with fowl language swarming the food court who are they to do nothing but walk around and from personal experience from working at the mall, cause problems. I would much rather be walking into a movie and have a homeless person ask me for a couple bucks, than walk by a group of 13 yr olds, talking about sex, who they are going to fight, screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs and on top of that asking me to buy them cigarettes!!! So I will finish my maybe not so nicely put together rant with, that it should be a no brainer that the beacon will be a much nicer place to go enjoy a movie than our horribly put together mall

Not only that Chris but you can take booze into Stanleys movies. Lots of local business's would love to get a liquor license for their restaurants but can't. Stanley gets one for his movie theater on top of his other business. Ruberto is bringing North street back....but only if you are his friend can you get any help from him. He is the mayor of the already rich. to hell with everyone else.

Chris Peterson wrote:

Wow, just have to say I don't think there will be hookers outside of the movie theater. Also I sped many of my evenings on North St. at the Mission Bar, and I have never been solicited by a hooker! As for food, Bennigans? Really? Because chain food is so much better then the options you have on North St. You have Jae's Spice, that despite popular beliefs has many fairly priced dishes, Hot Harrys, the Press Box and Patrick's for great pub food! To me it's a no brainer. Who cares about the shopping stores as well! If I'm going to a movie, what the hell do I need stores for? I'm going to watch a movie not shop! That should add no points to saying the mall is better then the beacon. Next note, unfortunately due to our current economic climate there are more people than usual un-employed and possibly homelss, every city has that! If the are out and about soliciting for money and it bothers you then ignore them, they are not violent people, they are just trying to get by the best they can. My number one to go to the beacon over the mall, is the fact on the weekends, you have to fight your way through a crowd of young teenagers and preteens with fowl language swarming the food court who are they to do nothing but walk around and from personal experience from working at the mall, cause problems. I would much rather be walking into a movie and have a homeless person ask me for a couple bucks, than walk by a group of 13 yr olds, talking about sex, who they are going to fight, screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs and on top of that asking me to buy them cigarettes!!! So I will finish my maybe not so nicely put together rant with, that it should be a no brainer that the beacon will be a much nicer place to go enjoy a movie than our horribly put together mall

I said Bennigans and the food court at the mall were quick options, notas good as the Highland or many other places on North St. Red with real comprehension, not with selective comprehension. Also, where are you going to see Indie and foreign films? It sure isn't going tobe at the Beacon.
,at least not the one in Pittsfield. Dream on, mayor Squiggy, if he isn't overturned in the recount, will make downtown Pittsfield Nirvana, or at least the closest one can come with hookers and bums around.

Soc Student wrote:

We live in north county and with the North Adams movie theater closed I'd be willing to try out the Beacon. But one subject everyone has seemed to miss...will it be less expensive than the mall? I have kids,(sorry smarta**es we're not on welfare), and it takes more than a day's pay to take them to the movies with popcorn and drinks.

That's why there's Netflix.$10 per month and all the movies you can watch,$14 per for a better plan. It saves a lot of money for families or anybody looking for a good deal.

JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA wrote:

<quoted text>I said Bennigans and the food court at the mall were quick options, notas good as the Highland or many other places on North St. Red with real comprehension, not with selective comprehension. Also, where are you going to see Indie and foreign films? It sure isn't going tobe at the Beacon.
,at least not the one in Pittsfield. Dream on, mayor Squiggy, if he isn't overturned in the recount, will make downtown Pittsfield Nirvana, or at least the closest one can come with hookers and bums around.

Jimmy G You forgot to mention about all the Lazy people on Social Security. Why don't these lazy SOBs work instead of leaching off the Tax payers???

Chris Peterson wrote:

Wow, just have to say I don't think there will be hookers outside of the movie theater. Also I sped many of my evenings on North St. at the Mission Bar, and I have never been solicited by a hooker! As for food, Bennigans? Really? Because chain food is so much better then the options you have on North St. You have Jae's Spice, that despite popular beliefs has many fairly priced dishes, Hot Harrys, the Press Box and Patrick's for great pub food! To me it's a no brainer. Who cares about the shopping stores as well! If I'm going to a movie, what the hell do I need stores for? I'm going to watch a movie not shop! That should add no points to saying the mall is better then the beacon. Next note, unfortunately due to our current economic climate there are more people than usual un-employed and possibly homelss, every city has that! If the are out and about soliciting for money and it bothers you then ignore them, they are not violent people, they are just trying to get by the best they can. My number one to go to the beacon over the mall, is the fact on the weekends, you have to fight your way through a crowd of young teenagers and preteens with fowl language swarming the food court who are they to do nothing but walk around and from personal experience from working at the mall, cause problems. I would much rather be walking into a movie and have a homeless person ask me for a couple bucks, than walk by a group of 13 yr olds, talking about sex, who they are going to fight, screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs and on top of that asking me to buy them cigarettes!!! So I will finish my maybe not so nicely put together rant with, that it should be a no brainer that the beacon will be a much nicer place to go enjoy a movie than our horribly put together mall

Well, the person complaining about the handicapped parking needs it, whatever. Go to the mall. The issue I have with you is that you call Hot Harry's good food. Uh, it sucks.

JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA wrote:

<quoted text>I said Bennigans and the food court at the mall were quick options, notas good as the Highland or many other places on North St. Red with real comprehension, not with selective comprehension. Also, where are you going to see Indie and foreign films? It sure isn't going tobe at the Beacon.
,at least not the one in Pittsfield. Dream on, mayor Squiggy, if he isn't overturned in the recount, will make downtown Pittsfield Nirvana, or at least the closest one can come with hookers and bums around.

ah dude, they're showing a film called Paris...looks pretty foreign to me
http://www.thebeaconcinema.com

Pittsfield Tax Payer wrote:

I sure hope the Beacon Cinema is successul after all our tax dollars gave it 1.5 million directly and another 1 million through community development grant. Stanley states that annual sales will be approx 2 million. What is the earnings estimate? Could it be 10%? If so that would be better than any cinema complex I know. Given a 10% earnings on $2 million sales, that would be $200k profit per year. With a $23 million investment, the pay back is 115 years. It is a good thing that the Eagle reported today that "Ruberto said he hasn't put the projections through an economic fomula" Now we know why !

this is seriously flawed, for if true they wouldn't have gotten any of the backing from real people that invested real money, people that know how to do math on investments.

You do not calculate the value of an investment in payback years. And, the cost is not the 23 million invested, the cost is the annual cost of that money which is much, much less. They will make more in gross profit than the money costs them and will likely show a profit in year 1.

Not to pick on you in particular, but one thing I would observe is that people that invested the money, people that run banks for example, probably have a better skillset in examining risk and potential gain then you or I have. For if your analysis was even close to correct, this project and most projects would never get done.

I for one am on the side of people that are thanking businessmen for investing in our downtown and giving it a try. All the negativity "I give it one year" is simply childish. Why not, as a community, support success instead of being envious?

JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA wrote:

<quoted text>I said Bennigans and the food court at the mall were quick options, notas good as the Highland or many other places on North St. Red with real comprehension, not with selective comprehension. Also, where are you going to see Indie and foreign films? It sure isn't going tobe at the Beacon.
,at least not the one in Pittsfield. Dream on, mayor Squiggy, if he isn't overturned in the recount, will make downtown Pittsfield Nirvana, or at least the closest one can come with hookers and bums around.

Well, you do say the Highland. Not even good food, that crap is not edible. I will never understand why old time pittsfield folk talk about that place as a good restaurant..it is HORRIBLE, everything is frozen.

parking will suck

religion kills wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, you do say the Highland. Not even good food, that crap is not edible. I will never understand why old time pittsfield folk talk about that place as a good restaurant..it is HORRIBLE, everything is frozen.

And you all think the high priced things you get at the almighty Jae's Spice aren't frozen? I guess they aren't priced high enough, for they're closing soon from what I hear

JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA wrote:

<quoted text>And you all think the high priced things you get at the almighty Jae's Spice aren't frozen? I guess they aren't priced high enough, for they're closing soon from what I hear

Jimmy, I don't mean to pick on you..but I never mentioned Jae's Spice. I put this in the category of "let's argue for arguments sake". When I disagree with someone here they immediately seem to know my entire position on everything.

Now, since you brought it up, I will say I happen to think Jae's Spice offers a much better dining value than the highland. I don't know which of what they serve is frozen and which is not, but I guarantee you most is not and especially not the raw fish!

It is also not expensive, in fact quite reasonable, to eat there.

But my point had nothing to do with any restaurant except the highland. To be fair I've only been once and not in some time (it was one of those never again experiences) so maybe it has changed. Judging by its following I think not.

The time I went I had to choose between dead baby cow frozen puck thing or dead fat pig frozen puck think or dead adult cow frozen puck thing. you get the picture..all the choices seemed to have been pressed out of the same mold.

Sorry, it doesn't even rise to the level of patronizable. Really, not even an option, it was so horrible.

I still don't get why people like it so much. Maybe it reminds them of the high school cafeteria?

And the knee jerk hatred of Jae's Spice just makes no sense. I wonder if you've even been there? Sure, the partners can be intolerable (I won't bother sharing my recent discussion with Ms. Bernstein....it was like the twilight zone) but clearly most people railing against it haven't been there.

As for the mall, I never said it but will now: its more than just your scorecard about features. IT IS THE MALL. Something to be avoided at all costs. tacky chain brands, trashy kids, gangster wannabee kids....I could go on, but there is really nothing there for me and having this cinema greatly increases the chances I'd go out to an overpriced movie.

JIMMY G PITTSFIELD MA wrote:

<quoted text>And you all think the high priced things you get at the almighty Jae's Spice aren't frozen? I guess they aren't priced high enough, for they're closing soon from what I hear

Jim, Two questions. Exactly how many times have you dined at Jae's Spice? Can you really say the Highland has good food and keep a straight face?Come on now be honest.