In 1987, the Enea family built the theater that has become a landmark facade in downtown Pacific Grove. These days it belongs to three Enea sisters, the third-generation owners.
The theater is now listed for sale by Mahoney & Associates Commercial Real Estate. The property consists of four screening theaters, an apartment and a concession area with restrooms. The asking price is $3.5 million.
In 2023, the sisters, under the leadership of Sally Enea, decided to keep the theater in the family and pushed hard for reopening after a pandemic closure. Two years later, due to the cost related with running an old charming cinema when online streaming dominates the industry, they decided to put the place up for sale.
"When we show, for example, a Disney movie, we send them back 67 percent of our revenues," Enea explains. That's why the theater has been moving toward special events, such as making itself available for Monterey Comedy Improv on the last Saturday of each month, and a Star Wars burlesque show (9pm Saturday, May 3 and 8pm Sunday, May 4).
"I still would like to keep it," says Enea, currently a Napa resident, who shares that seeing the building torn down would be a nightmare for her. She is hoping to create a joint venture, if the right partner would appear and keep the current management.
It will likely take a year or more to sell it, according to Sally Enea, so there's still plenty of time to enjoy the venue in its current form. In the near future, the theater will also hold bingo nights.
Visit lighthousecinema4events.com for the schedule.