The Varsity Theatre in Seattle’s University District went dark on Thursday, Jan. 15, closing the curtain on more than 80 years of moviegoing on the Ave. The three-screen house had long been a campus and neighborhood fixture, showing a blend of Hollywood blockbusters and arthouse picks. Its operator said mounting costs and lingering pandemic pressures made keeping the venue open untenable.
On the theater’s final day, students and longtime regulars crowded the lobby for one last ticket, according to KUOW. KUOW reported that the Varsity’s farewell lineup paired the latest Avatar installment with smaller titles, a low-key, bittersweet bill for a community saying goodbye.
Christian Mackie told KUOW the loss felt “heartbreaking.” A fellow student described seeing a movie at the Varsity as “an event,” and a longtime patron called their visit a “last chance to say goodbye to an old friend.” For many, the closure felt like one more sign that places where people gather in person are becoming harder to find.
A Neighborhood Staple For Decades
The Varsity first opened in 1940 and operated as a three-screen cinema for generations of students and neighbors. Far Away Entertainment took over operations in 2015, as reported by The Seattle Times. The company ran a small group of neighborhood cinemas and often mixed first run films with special programming.
Why the Last Reel
In its closing notice, the theater’s staff cited “ongoing challenges following the pandemic and rising costs” that made the venue’s future “impossible,” a message relayed by KIRO 7. The operator added it was “hopeful the Varsity may find new life in the future for film, live events, or community programming.” For now, regular movie operations at the Varsity will cease.
Where Filmgoers Will Go Next
The loss leaves few nearby alternatives for neighborhood arthouse screenings. SIFF announced it would not continue its lease at the Egyptian Theatre after extensive flood damage and repairs, according to SIFF, taking another local venue off the map. For big-screen commercial fare, the nearest multiplex appears to be Regal Thornton Place in Northgate, FOX 13 Seattle reports…