Milwaukee-based lodging and entertainment group, The Marcus Corporation , is widening its Twin Cities footprint after acquiring a popular downtown Minneapolis hotel and St. Louis Park movie theatre.
Marcus Hotels & Resorts announced in March 4th that it, along with Hempel Real Estate and Robinson Park, had closed on the Loews Minneapolis Hotel and rebranded the hotel as The Lofton Hotel under the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, making it the first Tapestry Collection hotel in Minnesota.
"I believe strongly in Minneapolis, it's a great market," said Marcus Corporation CEO Greg Marcus. "Like a lot of the midwestern cities, Minneapolis has had a lot of challenges the last few years. I believe those are only temporary and a great city like Minneapolis will overcome the challenges and its downtown will thrive."
Marcus Hotels & Resorts is also behind the Hilton along American Boulevard West in Bloomington.
Nearly four months after the Loews Hotel acquisition, on July 1st, Marcus Theatres announced it would be taking over the Showplace ICON Theatre & Kitchen at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park. The theatre closed briefly on June 30th and reopened Monday, July 8th as the Marcus West End Cinema.
"What made the theatre attractive is had great bones and it was in a great area," Marcus said. "The first changes people will see are operational changes. The physical changes will come next. Now we have are value Tuesday program with free popcorn and $6 admission. We also have a $7 matinee admission seven-days a week for seniors and children."
Marcus said he has always viewed theatres as an affordable way to get out of the house and hopes to maintain that notion in St. Louis Park.
"Twenty years from now, there won't be any young adults who say, 'I remember my parents taking me to see my first move Inside Out 2 and we went to the couch,'" added Marcus. "I will bet you twenty years from now they'll remember going to see their first movie at the West End Theatre. They'll remember the characters and the popcorn. You don't get that kind of experience on the couch."
When it comes to theatres, Marcus Theatres is no stranger to Minnesota, or the Twin Cities. Marcus operates eight theatres statewide including Marcus Oakdale, Rosemount, and Southbridge Crossing in Shakopee.
Of course, Minnesota theaters and hotels were decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic as tourism came to a screeching halt and movie goers opted for streaming at home due to mandated theatre closures.
Financially, Marcus said their hotels have bounced back since the pandemic.
"The challenges were significant and in some ways remain so. For as much as it changes though, it stays the same. We were closed. We've never been closed. Hotels are never closed and we closed all of our properties. I always believe that people and humans want to be together. They want to travel, experience, and get out. They have a desire to explore, congregate, and network. Whether it's the hotel business or theatre business, are based on that concept."
2023 looked to be a strong year for tourism in Minnesota and the Twin Cities. There was even greater optimism heading into 2024 with festivals, athletic evets, concerts, and more filling-up calendars.
"With The Lofton and it's location next to Target Center and Target Field, we know that those are going to be great drivers for that property. I'm hoping for a Brewers vs Twins World Series. That'd be a big win for me."
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