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Topic: Cinemark Century at Tanforan
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David Au
Member
Posts: 133
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Registered: Sep 2006
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posted September 09, 2008 04:28 PM
I actually know that a lot of people go out of their way to patronize Century theaters because they have real butter. A lot of people prefer real butter. Century wins customers over with their great popcorn. I know the fake butter topping at other theaters such as Regal really ruins the taste of the popcorn. When people have a choice, they go to a theater where the food tastes better.
Century is one of the best chains for good food. They served pizzas, hand scooped ice cream cones, milkshakes, and Starbucks while other theaters only offered candy and popcorn. People are willing to spend money on Starbucks and other great tasting food.
I was at a Regal once and the concession worker asked me if I wanted "butter" on my popcorn. My response was one of pure shock and horror. I knew that stuff was hydrogenated oil with silicon as an ingredient.
Perhaps Regal and other chains can offer real butter, but charge for it. Some chains charge for real butter such as Warren Theatres. If they give people an option for better tasting popcorn, I believe people will pay for it. They already pay quite a bit for movie theater food already.
We see Starbucks showing up in places such as supermarkets. They make tons of money. People want these amenities and a lot of money can be made this way.
[ September 10, 2008, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: David Au ]
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Scott D. Neff
Tour Guide
Posts: 661
From: San Francisco, CA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted September 27, 2008 11:40 AM
About butter, Century theatres still uses the O'Dells butterfat. I don't know if the rest of Cinemark now has real butter, but to my knowledge all Century "branded" locations do. As far as it being REAL butter, it is and it isn't. It's been clarified and the milk solids have been removed so there truly isn't dairy left in it. The Odell's butterfat is shelf stable and doesn't need refrigeration.
About Tanforan -- David you're absolutely right. Those seats are AWFUL. Absolutely awful. Being a former Century employee I was eager to see how this theatre would turn out.
Having visited the Century Summit Sierra in Reno (the first Cinemark opened Century build) I was disappointed because it was a Century blueprint but with Cinemark finishes: Black/Orange carpet, gold trimmed poster frames, cheesy "Hollywood" photos, baby crap colored trash cans and benches... the only thing Century about it besides the layout was the snack bar, Century mural and tile treatment around the theatre entrances.
The Century 16 in Boulder was much the same way, but more of a Century feel to the lobby and halls but just had Cinemark auditoriums attached.
But with Tan Foran I was pleased to see an entirely Century feel to things. Century carpet, Century hallways... it felt like the Century I used to work for. Until I sat in those god awful seats.
Long story even longer, I was surprised that while I was in Colorado Springs I went to a Cinemark Tinseltown 20 and found that it had been remodelled with Century carpet and even Century murals. It was REALLY REALLY unexpected.
My guess is that there was a little tug-o-war at the Cinemark HQ about whether it was worth it to keep up with the Cinemark style or whether it was better to go with the Century style since I'm guessing the top grossing theatres Cinemark owns are probably Century theatres.
But those are my two cents...
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