Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Michael Boening, left, and Edna Martinez wait on movie customers as North Plains 7 reopened over the weekend.
CLOVIS - After 429 days with the surround sound silenced and the big screen dark, North Plains 7 reopened in Clovis on Friday. People on both sides of the ticket booth said they are excited to be back at the movies.
Suzette Ramirez, the theater's manager, described the closures brought on by COVID-19 as a "struggle," for her and other theater employees. But Friday marked a brighter future.
"It wasn't even a struggle to get people to come back to work, so that was wonderful. ... We are so happy to be open again, extremely happy," she said.
North Plains 7 was offering six movies: "Spiral," "Wrath of Man," "Raya and the Last Dragon," "Godzilla vs. Kong," "Mortal Kombat," and "The Unholy." Ramirez said 538 people bought tickets over the weekend.
Movie box office sales in 2020 dropped by 80 percent, as most movies scheduled for theatrical releases in 2020 were either postponed or sent directly to streaming debuts through services including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max. That's according to The Hollywood Reporter. But watching films in a theater with dozens of others is an experience you can't get on your couch.
Amberlynn Mauldin, her husband Brad, and son Kayden, 15, were among those happy to be back. Prior to the shutdowns, they were frequent movie-goers. On Friday, they chose "Godzilla vs. Kong." The movie's been available to stream on HBO Max since March 31, but Amberlynn Mauldin said they had "been waiting to watch the movie in theater, and having the opportunity to come to a local theater is just super."
Safety protocols are in effect to minimize the spread of COVID-19, according to the North Plains 7 website. They include plexiglass shields surrounding the concessions, designated 6-foot space markers placed on the floors, and the mandatory wearing of facemasks by all staff members. As noted on its website, "Guests who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear face masks. Guests who are not fully vaccinated are asked to wear face masks while not seated."
The theater is closed this week until Friday, when Ramirez said it plans to return to its pre-COVID regular daily schedule.
