Sun-Ray Cinema
The Sun-Ray Cinema at 5 Points, formerly known as Riverside Theater and 5 Points Theatre, is a historic two-screen movie theater in Jacksonville, Florida.[2] The first theater in Florida equipped to show talking pictures, it opened in March 1927 in the Five Points district of the Riverside and Avondale neighborhood.
1927-1982 Riverside Theater 1984-1991 River City Playhouse 1991-2004 Club 5 Nightclub 2008-2011 5 Points Theatre 2011-present Sun-Ray Cinema at 5 Points | |
 | |
  Sun-Ray Cinema Location within Central Jacksonville  Sun-Ray Cinema Sun-Ray Cinema (Florida) | |
| Address | 1028 Park Street Jacksonville, Florida United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Mike Shad (building) Tim Massett (theater) |
| Operator | Tim Massett |
| Capacity | 200[1] |
| Current use | Movie theater |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 1, 1927 |
| Rebuilt | 2004-2008 historic restoration |
| Architect | Roy Benjamin |
| Website | |
| Sun Ray Cinema | |
History
Sun-Ray Cinema opened in 2011, when the Five Points area was struggling as a center for Riverside and Avondale. There were 13 empty retail spaces when Sun-Ray opened. The operator of the business previously in the building closed that same year, three months before Sun-Ray opened.
The building was updated and modernized after a failed attempt to do by previous operators. [3]
Present day
The show schedule features new releases, lesser-known movies and cult films.[1] In addition to traditional movie fare plus beer and wine, they also serve sandwiches, hummus, site-made pizza with unusual toppings (such as kimchi, sauerkraut and sriracha sauce) and baked goods.[4] The theatre expanded its capacity, adding a second auditorium in 2014.[5]
In 2016, PETA ranked Sun-Ray Cinema as the number one theater for people who do not eat animal products, since the menu includes multiple vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.[6]
Sun-Ray Cinema has announced plans to expand, adding a second location in the Jacksonville area in early 2020.
References
- "Sun-Ray Cinema". Florida Trend. March 22, 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- Waymarking, Five Points Theater, Jacksonville
- Soergel, Matt (October 18, 2011) "Renovation of Jacksonville's 5 Points Theatre could be ready by Dec. 1". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- "Menu". Sun-Ray Cinema. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- Gibbons, Timothy (January 14, 2014) "Second screen for Riverside's Sun-Ray Cinema". Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- Jacksonville's Sun-Ray Cinema Nationally Recognized For Vegan Eats WJCT, January 22, 2016.