Podcast: Jerry Anderson on Northfield movie theaters; Jessica Paxton on ArtSwirl

Our radio show/podcast is getting so popular (listenership projected to reach double-digits Real Soon Now) that we’re now having to schedule two guests per show at times. (Contact our agent if you’d like to appear.)

Ross Currier, Jerry Anderson, Griff Wigley Jessica Paxton, Ross Currier, Griff Wigley

Left: Jerry Anderson joined us to talk movie theaters. He owns Southgate Cinema, soon to become a Culver’s restaurant. He’d like to build a 10-screen movie theater in the area. Where? We discussed three locations: the Q-Block, the space south of Menards, and the space between Target and Cub Foods… all with an interesting possibility for a downtown ‘extension.’

Right: Jessica Paxton was also a guest, giving us a preview of next week’s 5th annual ArtSwirl, “Northfield’s community-wide celebration of our vast array of music, dance, theater, and literary and visual arts.”

Click play to listen. 30 minutes. You can also subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe directly with iTunes. Our radio show/podcast, Locally Grown, usually airs Wednesdays at 5:30 PM on KYMN 1080 AM.

6 Comments

  1. Though I’d rather see a movie theater put in that already-developed park-like land between Target and Cub than have it take new land near Cannon City Boulevard and Hwy 3, is that possible? Wasn’t that green space part of the agreement between the City and Target in the late ’90s?

    July 31, 2008
  2. How can you justify a ten screen movie house around here? I’ve never seen more than 20 people in a theatre at Lakeville.

    July 31, 2008
  3. Anne Bretts said:

    Bright, the individual theaters are small because you have to offer lots of choices to lots of small groups to get the total number of people into the building each night. The more choices, the more chances you have of getting them to come back more than once a week.
    The developer who had the last plan was looking at 6-10 screens, and he had made the formula work in other cities this size.
    My guess is that Cub and Target would like an Office Max or other retail if the market grows enough to support it. The site behind Target seems workable, but I wonder whether the residents nearby would want the traffic, noise and bright lights.
    This should lead to some interesting possibilities.

    July 31, 2008
  4. Anne,
    My guess would be that Jerry Anderson — if he thinks that the space between Target and Cub is sufficient — wouldn’t need that entire empty lot behind Target. If the main theater entrance were at Heritage and Jefferson, it really wouldn’t affect the residential areas. All other three corners are already commercial (Community Bank, James Gang, and Northfield Optical). The only housing nearby is those apartment buildings, which have a relatively high wall dividing them from the land in question.

    On the other hand, if it were at Honeylocust and Jefferson (the south side of the lot), maybe something could be worked out to use that overflow lot on the north side of Target. It’d be nice if we didn’t have to have more seas of asphalt.

    Odd that Jerry didn’t mention this land in the podcast, though…

    August 1, 2008
  5. Griff Wigley said:

    Anne, you wrote a piece for the Strib back in Feb. on the new CineMagic Atlantis 15 theater in Burnsville.

    I see they’ve opened up… Google shows these movies showing.

    Their web site says:

    A second level bar and lounge area will serve liquor, beer and popular food items along with a carvery. Direct second evel access to the IMAX theater. Full banquet facilities to accommodate the ultimate birthday, anniversary corporate, holiday or movie club party.

    Any chance Northfield could support such an amenity in its theater?

    August 3, 2008
  6. Gabriel Rholl said:

    Did I hear Jerry say something about screening some movies downtown with the main theater south of town? Could there not be collaboration with the Grand to bring movies back there? That would be absolutely fabulous.

    August 3, 2008

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