Bloomington developer takes over former AMC theater
The nearly 8-acre former AMC complex on Bloomington’s east side has a new owner. Curry Limited Partnership of Bloomington closed on the property at 1351 S. College Mall Road for $5, 280, 000 on Jan. 30, 2026 (ET), setting the stage for an uncertain redevelopment timeline for the shuttered cinema.
Deal details and property background
The sale covers a parcel northeast of the intersection of East Moores Pike and South College Mall Road/South Sare Road and includes the former multi-screen theater complex. Public records list the parcel’s most recent assessed value at about $1. 6 million, while the prior owner purchased it in 2007 for $6. 3 million. The new purchase price sits well above the assessment but below the earlier sale price, reflecting shifting valuations for older suburban entertainment properties.
Why the theater closed
The theater ceased operations in September 2023 (ET). The chain cited the facility’s age and rising maintenance costs as factors in the decision to close the location. The company also noted it regularly evaluates theaters across its circuit and makes operational choices it believes will strengthen the business going forward. Local patrons had observed aging infrastructure and deferred upkeep in the months leading up to the shutdown.
Buyer profile and local connections
Curry Limited Partnership was formed in 1998 and lists Cary K. Curry as its registered agent and general partner. Cary Curry’s business address is the Curry Auto Center on E. Buick Cadillac Boulevard, roughly a half mile north of the former theater parcel. The partnership already holds other commercial real estate locally, including the building that houses a long-standing independent bookstore.
What the new owners are saying
Joseph Curry, a limited partner in the Curry Limited Partnership, said the buyers have had "a few discussions" about the property but added, "At this time, there are no plans. " That leaves the site in a holding pattern as the partnership evaluates possibilities and monitors market conditions before engaging in public planning or permitting processes.
Redevelopment prospects and local impact
The parcel’s location near major retail corridors and its proximity to existing Curry business interests make a range of outcomes plausible. Potential futures include commercial redevelopment linked to auto retail or services, a mixed-use retail center, or a longer-term land-holding until economic conditions favor a larger project. Any conversion would require local permitting and community consultation, and municipal officials and neighborhood stakeholders are likely to push for uses that support jobs and complement nearby businesses.
More broadly, the transaction is another example of how aging theater real estate is being reevaluated in mid-sized cities as consumer habits and distribution models change. Older single- or multi-screen suburban complexes often carry high upkeep costs and face competitive pressure from newer exhibition formats and at-home viewing options, altering how investors price and reuse these sites.
For now, the purchase closes one chapter for the eastside site and opens another. With no immediate plans announced, watchers of the Bloomington commercial landscape will be looking for permit filings, developer statements, and community meetings that could signal the property’s next incarnation.
