Cinemark, which operates 344 cinemas nationwide including three in Western Massachusetts, will close its theaters Wednesday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision by the Texas-based exhibitor comes a day after rivals AMC and Regal decided to close their entire chains until further notice. The three represent the largest theater chains in the United States.
In an email to moviegoers on Tuesday, CEO Mark Zoradi said Cinemark would remain closed “until we believe it is safe to once again welcome moviegoers to our auditoriums.”
“We appreciate your many concerns during these truly unprecedented times, and we want to relieve any uncertainties that you may have about your loyalty membership with Cinemark. To do this, we have increased the flexibility of our Cinemark Movie Rewards programs...”
Cinemark will:
- Extending the expiration date for all Cinemark Movie Rewards points to June 30.
- Pausing Movie Club membership fees while theaters are closed.
Refund all tickets that were purchased in advance. Online purchases will be automatically refunded, while tickets purchased at a Cinemark box office can be refunded by filling out a request at www.cinemark.com/contact-us.
Zoradi said Cinemark was aware of the “profound impact the closure of our theatres has on our employees, and it is not a decision we made lightly. We will continue to support our employees to the best of our abilities as we navigate through this most turbulent time.”
He did not elaborate on what support employees would receive.
In Western Massachusetts, independent theaters including Tower Theaters in South Hadley and Amherst Cinemas have temporarily closed because of concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Agawam Cinemas is offering Curbside To-Go Popcorn for those watching movies at home.
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