Sikeston theater avoids closure, signs new lease

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Sikeston moviegoers can count on being able to catch the latest releases at a cinema close to home for at least the next few years.

James Tashie, executive vice president of Malco Theatres, confirmed his company reached an agreement with Central Realty in St. Louis, owners of the shopping center on East Malone Avenue where the Malco Trio is located.

"The lease is a three- to five-year lease with options to extend," Tashie said.

The theater's future in Sikeston had been in doubt after it was shut down by the city Oct. 5 due to numerous code violations.

The closure came unexpectedly for the theater chain on the heels of the city council's decision to reject a proposed one-cent Community Improvement District tax to help renovate the building and parking area. The tax was strongly opposed by other businesses within the proposed district and some city residents.

"We are happy to be back up and running. We have brought it up to code and now that is behind us," Tashie said. "We certainly appreciate the cooperation from the city in such a way that we were able to be open for the holidays. We are most appreciative that the city worked with us to get through the issues that caused the shutdown. They've been very good about working with us and giving us the time we needed to address the code issues that were pointed out to us."

Tashie said his company has been working with the landlord to make some additional improvements to the building, including repairs to the roof, as weather permits, and replacing everything that sustained water damage from leaks, including some of the seats.

"We will take a hard look at it and figure out how to proceed down the road with the project, how much we want to continue to invest -- it really depends on the reception of the audience," Tashie said. "If people continue to patronize our theater, we will get a handle on how much we can spend and still get a return on our investment."

Whether some sort of alternative incentive agreement can be reached with the city is "something that is up to the landlord -- we're just a tenant in the building," Tashie said. "It's a very difficult economic time for cities to give up anything -- everybody is trying to make ends meet."

Tashie said they hope the landlord and city officials will be able to "come up with a program that benefits both sides."

In the meantime, Malco Trio is back in business which Tashie said "is a win for the city and Malco Theatres."

Pertinent address:

1045 E. Malone Ave., Sikeston, MO