by M.J. Trihey –
After more than two decades showing first-run movies in Tappahannock, the Essex 5 Cinema closed its doors for what may be the final time on Jan. 1.
Paul Sanchez, owner of P&G Theaters, opened the cinema in the Essex Square Shopping Center in August 2000.
Sanchez, a veteran theater owner who got into the business in the 1970s, at 21 years of age, would eventually own 17 theaters, mostly in the Washington, D.C., area.
Sanchez says he has decided to retire for health reasons. He has previously sold or closed all of his cinemas. The Essex 5 was the last to close. Sanchez waited until the lease was expiring to shutter the Tappahannock location.
The theater always did well, Sanchez said, until COVID-19 forced a closure of 18 months. Even with that, he said the theater has bounced back and 2022 was a good year.
“Next year is supposed to be really good,” he said. “A lot of big pictures are coming out.”
Sanchez said anyone interested in buying the theater can reach him by email at moviescope1000@gmail.com.
“I sure hope we can find someone,” he said. “The theater is in good shape and not to be open again would be really sad.”
(M.J. Trihey is a reporter for the Rappahannock Times, where this story originally appeared.)
