The owners of the building that houses Yellowknife’s Capitol Theatre say they are looking for a new tenant with a “robust business plan” to keep the venue open as a community space.

A statement from Det’on Cho Group of Companies on Friday said they recognize the theatre as an important indoor space for the city.

Capitol Theatre’s owner announced  earlier this month  that the business had been struggling and its lease would not be renewed, with the doors to Yellowknife’s only cinema closing on March 31. They said continued operation of the theatre was “untenable.”

The Det’on Cho Group of Companies said it’s now inviting proposals from other potential operators, including community groups and non-profits, which can show they can operate and manage the facility.

“While a similar purpose may include film, we recognize the evolving entertainment landscape — with thousands of theatres closing across North America — and are open to models that can succeed in today’s economic climate,” its statement reads. 

“We are seeking a leaseholder with a robust business plan to ensure the doors remain open for years to come.”

It says negotiations are confidential.

Theatre a ‘non-negotiable,’ say local movie lovers

Last week, a group of movie lovers in Yellowknife sent a letter to the building’s owners asking for details on plans for the space, saying that the uncertainty “renders it next to impossible for concerned citizens to respond to this situation appropriately.”

The letter followed a meeting earlier this month, when about two dozen people gathered at a local school gym to discuss possibilities for replacement of the movie theatre and the need for a dedicated screening space.

Aidan Charpentier, who spearheaded the effort, said in the letter a movie theatre is important not just to offset Yellowknife’s remoteness, but also to provide a cultural connection to the rest of the world.

“A movie theatre is a non-negotiable for the community of Yellowknife,” he wrote.

“It cannot be ignored that the landscape of downtown Yellowknife has been on a steady decline for years, and the loss of the movie theatre would be another detrimental blow to this ongoing problem,” he said in his letter.

Kat Marlowe, who attended the meeting at the gym, echoed Charpentier’s sentiments about the need for a movie theatre for a vibrant downtown. She said there is a symbiotic relationship between that space and other businesses, such as food trucks, coffee shops and restaurants.

“The more things you have happening, the more community is out there in the winter and in the summer,” she told CBC News.

She also noted that not everyone can afford to stream a movie on their computer, and a movie theatre provides a more communal experience.

“Going to a movie with a whole group of people, whether they’re friends of yours or whether they’re just other people in your community, that is a different experience,” Marlowe said.

“And I think in modern society, that’s something that we’re getting less and less of.”