Laemmle Claremont 5 theater is sold
The Claremont Laemmle 5 theater has been sold. Escrow closed Wednesday. Courier file photo
by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com
The Laemmle Claremont 5 movie theater has sold.
Escrow closed Wednesday, and the buyer is a theater operator, according to Laemmle Theaters President and CEO Greg Laemmle, who declined to reveal the purchase price.
Laemmle said his company will continue to operate the beloved Claremont theater through near the end of January, at which time the new owner will step in.
The 87-year-old Laemmle chain opened the Claremont location at 450 W. Second St. in 2007 as part of the then new Village West expansion. The 18,743 square-foot facility had been on and off the market since 2020, with various sales falling through and a December 2024 auction failing to meet the reserve price of about $4 million.
Laemmle’s five-plus year effort to offload the property stemmed from local and national market forces, including a lack of support from Claremont area moviegoers, pressure from the new AMC location in Montclair, and the increasing popularity of streaming content.
This is a breaking story. For updated coverage, go to claremont-courier.com.
2 Comments
Submit a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I was at our Laemmle this evening for early showing of “Wicked for Good” to benefit the CHS Thespian Troupe. The community showed up even on a rainy night. Business sponsors, politicians, joined CHS students cheering. A great time just like last year. Hoping that new owners tap into the community. Current folk are truly dedicated and special and will be missed deeply, Maybe the new owners will keep them on?
I was there the first day they opened in 2007. It has been the best place to see movies since that day. I never understood why more people didn’t support this venue.
I too hope the new owner taps into the community and keeps it as a theater.
The Laemmle will be greatly missed.