Campbell's Luxurious Pruneyard Cinemas Closes After Seven Years of Struggling.
The curtain is finally coming down on Pruneyard Cinemas, the luxury movie theater in Campbell that promised to bring a taste of old-school glamour back to the Bay Area. The cinema, which opened its doors in 2018 with fanfare and touted amenities such as a bar and lounge, in-theater food service, and luxurious recliners, has been struggling to stay afloat since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.
Owner Jack Nyblom has admitted that despite efforts to lure customers back through various promotions and programs, the economic pressure proved too much to overcome. A lease adjustment request made public in June 2024, which was initially seen as a last-ditch attempt to secure better terms from landlord Regency Centers, ultimately marked the end of the road for Pruneyard Cinemas.
Over the years, the cinema has tried various tactics to attract audiences, including offering membership plans with concessions discounts and even hosting drag queen bingo nights in its Cedar Room lounge. However, nothing seemed to shake off the lingering effects of the pandemic on the entertainment industry.
The closure marks a significant setback for Nyblom, who had invested heavily in reviving Camera 7, which had closed in 2017 as part of a major renovation at Pruneyard Shopping Center. The cinema's failure is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses and independent theaters in the modern entertainment landscape.
As one of the newer luxury cinemas in the Bay Area, Pruneyard Cinemas had big ambitions and a bold vision for a unique cinematic experience. Despite its efforts to adapt to changing times, however, it ultimately succumbed to the same economic pressures that have been affecting many small businesses across the region.
The curtain is finally coming down on Pruneyard Cinemas, the luxury movie theater in Campbell that promised to bring a taste of old-school glamour back to the Bay Area. The cinema, which opened its doors in 2018 with fanfare and touted amenities such as a bar and lounge, in-theater food service, and luxurious recliners, has been struggling to stay afloat since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.
Owner Jack Nyblom has admitted that despite efforts to lure customers back through various promotions and programs, the economic pressure proved too much to overcome. A lease adjustment request made public in June 2024, which was initially seen as a last-ditch attempt to secure better terms from landlord Regency Centers, ultimately marked the end of the road for Pruneyard Cinemas.
Over the years, the cinema has tried various tactics to attract audiences, including offering membership plans with concessions discounts and even hosting drag queen bingo nights in its Cedar Room lounge. However, nothing seemed to shake off the lingering effects of the pandemic on the entertainment industry.
The closure marks a significant setback for Nyblom, who had invested heavily in reviving Camera 7, which had closed in 2017 as part of a major renovation at Pruneyard Shopping Center. The cinema's failure is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by small businesses and independent theaters in the modern entertainment landscape.
As one of the newer luxury cinemas in the Bay Area, Pruneyard Cinemas had big ambitions and a bold vision for a unique cinematic experience. Despite its efforts to adapt to changing times, however, it ultimately succumbed to the same economic pressures that have been affecting many small businesses across the region.
i remember when pruneyard opened its doors in 2018 and everyone was like "wow, luxury cinemas are back" but now it seems like they just couldn't make it work. i think part of the problem is that the pandemic changed everything - theaters were forced to get creative with their business models and it's hard to compete when everyone else is doing the same thing 
. i'm sure jack nyblom gave it his all, but sometimes even the best plans just don't pay off. camera 7 was a great idea by the way... it's like, what could've been if both that and pruneyard had made it? anyway, i hope jack bounces back from this soon 
. Anyways, I guess it's not a total shocker that they couldn't make it work in the end. Still, I wish them all the best and hope they're able to learn from their mistakes and come back stronger 
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It's so sad to hear about Pruneyard Cinemas closing after seven years 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good luxury movie experience, right? 
. It's just another reminder of how tough it can be for small businesses to compete with the bigger chains 
. Still, you've gotta admire their spirit and willingness to think outside the box 
. Maybe we'll see a new luxury cinema come along soon? 
. As a loyal user myself, it's sad to see it go, but I guess you've gotta respect the struggle.
but you just can't beat the economics sometimes, you know? i feel for Jack Nyblom, he put his heart and soul into that place. it's a shame that some small businesses struggle so much in this industry... maybe we'll see more luxury cinemas pop up in other parts of the country or even internationally 
. But, you know, times are tough, especially after COVID-19 hit 
. Guess we'll have to find new ways to indulge in our love for movies 
. 7 years is a long time for a business to struggle and its sad to see Pruneyard Cinemas go. the pandemic was already taking its toll on the entertainment industry and it's no surprise that luxury cinemas were affected too 
. either way, it's a reminder that even with big ambitions, small businesses can fall victim to economic pressures 
I'm so sad 2 hear about Pruneyard Cinemas closin 
Anywayz, it's just another example of how hard it is 4 small businesses 2 stay afloat in today's economy 
Maybe they cud've done some other things 2 attract more customers tho? Idk... just sad that a place w/ so much potential is closin down 
. I feel bad for Jack Nyblom, he put his heart and soul into this place... what's next for him and Pruneyard's other cinema? 
anyway, i kinda feel bad for jack nyblom - he invested so much in camera 7 and this whole pruneyard thing... maybe next time will be different 
. They had some cool perks like bar service and all-you-can-eat snacks. I was really stoked when they opened up that Cedar Room lounge and started hosting drag shows 
. It's crazy how hard it is for small businesses to stay afloat in this pandemic-weathered entertainment landscape 
he gave it his all and tried so many creative ways to bring people back. maybe next time there's a new luxury cinema in the Bay Area, we'll get to experience that magic again 
That's a lot of missed opportunities for luxury experiences like Pruneyard Cinemas offered. Anyway, with a 30% increase in ticket prices over the past year, I'm surprised they lasted as long as they did... and btw, have you seen the growth of streaming services? It's no surprise that audiences are opting for home movie nights over going to the cinema... 
, so comfy! anyway, gotta say i'm really bummed that it closed... what's gonna happen to camera 7 now?