Harkins Theatres reportedly will shut doors on north Phoenix location

PHOENIX – Harkins Theatres will reportedly close the doors on a 20-year-old movie house in north Phoenix before the end of the year.

The North Valley 16 theater near 32nd Street and Bell Road could be making way for a proposed garden-style multifamily project from Scottsdale-based developer Wolff and Company.

“After over 20 years of entertaining moviegoers, we are beginning the process of closing the curtain on our beloved North Valley 16,” Harkins told ABC15 on Monday.

“Because of the age of the theatre, a substantial reinvestment would have been necessary in order to make the theatre viable for the future, which was not feasible.”

The developers applied to the city for rezoning, according to an overview of the project posted June 25.

The plan is to construct 278 units on the 12.78 acres, along with a clubhouse, pool, fitness facility, a game room and a dog park, among other amenities.

The theater opened in 2001. The exact closing date has yet to be determined.

Harkins temporarily closed its theaters in March 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic but reopened in late August as restrictions were lifted.

As of last year, the chain had 33 theaters in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oklahoma.

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