Ottawa's World Exchange Plaza theatre closes its doors

The last downtown multiplex theatre in Ottawaclosed its doors on Sunday after the theatre company and the landlord of the World Exchange Plazas cinema space couldnt agree to a new lease deal.

Landmark Cinemas purchased the lease of seven-theatre space from Empire Theatres at the end of October, along with leases in Kanata and Orleans, when Empire exited the movie theatre business.

But in two echoing statements, Landmark and the property manager for the theatre space wrote the sides could not reach a new deal.

Both the landlord and Landmark worked diligently towards a mutually acceptable lease deal, however, despite a genuine effort fromboth parties this was unattainable, wrote Jennifer Arnold, a spokesperson forproperty managerBentall Kennedy.

Arnold said the search is on for a new theatre company to take over the lease, but she would not reveal any details on the negotiations.

If they cant find a new theatre deal, Arnold admitted the landlord would look for a different tenant.

This is unique space with attributes appealing to those tenants desiring a special location in a prestigious building, she wrote.

Loss an 'embarrassment' forhead offilm society

The closing of the theatre happened after the credits rolled onDallas Buyers Club late Sunday.

Itwill havean impact on the local film crowdtoo, according toNick Ouzas, president of the Ottawa Film Society.The society holds a weekly film club in the theatre where it screens international films.Ouzas said some of their films have not been converted into a digital format and remain only on 35-millimetre film.

The cinema at the World Exchange Plaza is one of only three in Ottawa that can show old films, includingthe ByTowne and the Mayfair.

City council dropped the ball in a significant way, said Ouzas, who believes councillors share responsibility for a failed lease deal.

Ouzas said the report from city staff indicated the loss of the cinema would have little to no impact, but he believes this is an embarrassment for the downtown area.

He did say the film society saw the writing on the wall and planned to find a new site for January. It wont be as nice, accessible or convenient as the World Exchange, Ouzas admitted.