Moviegoers in Salina are facing a permanent change to their local entertainment landscape. The AMC theater in the Central Mall, located at 2259 S 9th Street, will not reopen, marking the end of a long-standing cinematic anchor for the shopping center.
The decision comes as the theater’s lease reaches its conclusion at the end of May. While the facility had been facing operational disruptions due to environmental factors, the company has confirmed that it will not seek a renewal or reopen its doors once the current agreement expires.
The closure is the culmination of a challenging spring for the Central Mall. A severe hail storm in late April caused significant damage to the property, forcing portions of the mall to close temporarily as owners assessed the structural integrity and safety of the interior spaces.
For residents of Salina, the loss of the AMC theater is more than just a business closure; it represents a shift in how the community accesses blockbuster cinema and a further evolution of the traditional mall experience.
Safety clearances and storm recovery
The road to the permanent closure was complicated by health and safety concerns following the April weather events. In the wake of the storm, the mall underwent rigorous environmental screening to ensure the safety of both employees and patrons.
Earlier this week, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) completed a comprehensive review of lab testing results conducted on-site. The agency reported that no asbestos was detected in the collected samples, confirming that the mall met all necessary KDHE testing requirements.
With the asbestos hazard officially ruled out, the mall management and remaining tenants have been cleared to proceed with essential cleaning and repair activities. While the “all-clear” from health officials provides a path forward for the property, it did not change the trajectory for the cinema.
The current state of Central Mall
The exit of a major entertainment draw like AMC creates a void that often impacts surrounding retail traffic. However, several businesses continue to operate within the complex, provided they can maintain independent access for their customers.
Currently, a little group of tenants remains open because their storefronts feature separate exterior entrances, allowing them to bypass the temporarily closed interior corridors of the mall. These businesses include:
- Dunham’s Sports
- District Eat & Play
- Taylor’s Twirlers
The survival of these “exterior-facing” businesses highlights a growing trend in retail architecture, where the reliance on internal mall foot traffic is replaced by direct-to-consumer accessibility.
The broader decline of the mall cinema
As a culture critic who has tracked the trajectory of AMC Theatres and other global chains, this closure in Salina mirrors a wider industry contraction. The “death of the mall” is a well-documented phenomenon, but the disappearance of the mall-based cinema is a specific symptom of shifting consumer habits.
The rise of high-quality home streaming, combined with the trend toward “luxury” standalone cinema complexes with dine-in options, has left many mid-sized mall theaters struggling. When leases expire, corporate entities often find it more fiscally viable to exit these aging spaces rather than invest in the massive capital expenditures required to modernize them.
For Salina, the loss of this venue means a reduction in the number of screens available to the public, potentially pushing audiences toward larger cities or alternative entertainment hubs. This shift often accelerates the decline of the surrounding retail ecosystem, as theaters typically serve as “anchor” attractions that drive evening and weekend traffic to nearby shops and eateries.
| Event/Milestone | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Hail Storm | Late April | Completed |
| KDHE Asbestos Testing | May | Cleared/Negative |
| AMC Lease Expiration | End of May | Closing Permanently |
What this means for Salina
The immediate impact of the AMC theater in the Central Mall closure will be felt by local film enthusiasts and the remaining mall tenants. While the lack of asbestos allows for the physical restoration of the mall, the loss of a primary entertainment draw complicates the long-term viability of the interior shopping corridors.
The focus now shifts to the mall’s ownership and their strategy for filling the vacancy. Whether the space is repurposed for a different type of entertainment, divided into smaller retail units, or remains vacant will largely determine if the Central Mall can pivot toward a new identity in a post-cinema era.
For now, the community must look to the remaining exterior-access businesses as the sole remaining anchors of the site while the broader facility undergoes necessary repairs.
The next confirmed step for the property involves the ongoing cleaning and repair activities authorized following the KDHE safety clearance. Further updates regarding the future occupancy of the cinema space are expected following the formal expiration of the lease at the end of the month.
Do you have memories of the Central Mall cinema or thoughts on the changing retail landscape in Salina? Share your thoughts in the comments or share this story with your community.
