MAITLAND, Fla. — An Orlando movie theater that’s been around for more than 30 years is struggling to keep from closing its doors.
The Enzian Theater, a nonprofit organization, wants to continue bringing film, art and a unique experience to Central Florida, but they can’t do it alone.
It started as a repertory theater and then expanded into first-run film programming. Since then, it has become Orlando’s and Central Florida’s renowned arthouse theater. For three decades, it’s also been a longstanding stomping ground for many Hollywood notables.
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But the piece of history has been hit hard by the pandemic.
“Even on a good day, we’re selling half our inventory and it’s just crippling because we’re a nonprofit organization,” said Janie Pope, director of marketing for the Enzian.
She said donations and sales from food and alcohol are among the few financial boosts keeping the theater from going dark.
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“The distributors are signing deals with streaming companies,” Pope said. “They are pushing their release dates back months and months so things that we thought we could get that might entice folks to come out are just not available.”
United Arts is allowing any donation made to Enzian through them to be matched at 15%, and any new donor, that donation is matched 30%.
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