In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet are talking about the Hidden Gem of Premiere Theatres where every night's a movie night. Premiere Theatres, owned by Rick Stowell, opened in May of 1994 after the city had gone without a movie theatre for over twelve years. So Rick took the old grocery store owned by his father Gene, which had sat vacant since 1989, and turned it into a two-screen movie theatre.
Demand was so great that he added two more screens in 1996. In 2011, two more screens were added, bringing the total to six screens. In addition, upgrades in seating we made changing out regular seating to the high back rocker style chairs. By doing this, renovation and seating upgrades took the capacity from 1,000 seats to 820 seats. Many people are asking, "what about recliners?" Adam, Rick's son and next-generation owner is headed to CinemaCon in Vegas this fall to check into the options.
Also, in 2011, Premiere was the first theatre in Minnesota to go 100% digital. The way movies were delivered when they first opened by film stock on large reals and fed through a projector and spliced together to show the entire movie, approximately three reels has since changed to movies being delivered over digital satellite.
Many people thought that streaming would be the end of the movie theaters. During the pandemic, movies went to streaming, Hollywood did not get enough money from that format, piracy was an issue, and the quality suffered. The film industry tried it, and it did not work. People love their local theatre experience and could hardly wait to come back to see movies.
Stop by Premiere Theatres and say hello to Rick, Adam, and manager Kerry. Then, get your tickets, popcorn, and candy, settle into the comfy seating and get ready to see some of the greatest blockbuster hits.
904 Hwy 33 South
Cloquet MN 55720
(218) 879-7985
