West End Cinema To Close at End of March


Beloved indie movie theatre West End Cinema will close in the end of March, co-founder and general manager Josh Levin announced on March 3. After opening in 2010, West End Cinema became known for showing independent films unsuited for large theaters and even for E Street Cinema downtown.

Levin has made the West End a haven for small, independent movies that otherwise could only be seen on demand or not at all. During the past five years, it’s provided D.C. residents an important venue for independent cinema, documentaries, awards contenders, foreign flicks and controversial movies such as “The Interview” last December.

West End Cinema said the following on their website: “For the past few years, we’ve enjoyed serving the ?D.C. community of cinephiles and movie-lovers, but the time has come. We are incredibly grateful for all your support and would love to share our thanks with you for one last month…and D.C.’s best popcorn!”

“We have loved doing what we’ve been doing, but we’re facing increased occupancy cost and increased competition for (movie) titles, so we decided to leave with our heads held high, declare victory and depart the field,” Levin told WTOP.

The theater will show its last film on Thursday, March 26. Stay tuned to West End Cinema’s website www.westendcinema.com, newsletter, and social media accounts for news about a to-be-announced final celebration to occur before the official closing on Tuesday, March 31.

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