San Diego's last Reading Cinemas shuts down
Reading Cinemas at Grossmont Center closed its doors for the last time on Monday.
“Reading Cinemas Grossmont location will be permanently closed,” the company announced on its Instagram page.
A layoff notice filed with the state in April said the closure will impact 63 workers, with layoffs happening between May 31 and June 15. “Employees will be asked to assist with closure tasks through this date,” the company wrote.
It is closing “due to the loss of our lease at this location,” the notice added.
As Grossmont Center undergoes a redevelopment, the 52,657-square-foot cinema was one of the spaces marked for an update. The La Mesa mall’s owner, Maryland-based Federal Realty Investment Trust, said earlier this year that it plans to bring in a new theater.
In January, Federal Realty embarked on a $10 million makeover of exterior storefronts, entrance ways and landscaping. This marks the first major overhaul to the regional shopping center since Federal Realty purchased a controlling interest in the property from the Cushman family in August 2021.
Monday morning, the mall’s website showed 22 of 100 retail spaces up for lease, though that might not reflect the most recent tenant agreements.
Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, BJ's Restaurant, Panera Bread and Casa De Pico are staying, the mall owner has said. Anchor tenant Macy's closed, in a move that lines up with a cut in store count by that department store chain.
Reading Cinemas has also steadily reduced its theater count in the U.S.
Reading Town Square, in Clairemont, closed last year, and its Gaslamp location shut down about a decade ago. Other closures for the chain, including its Angelika brand, took place in Sonoma County and Texas. Reading Cinemas now has dozens of theaters in Australia and New Zealand, three theaters in the U.S. but none in San Diego.
The three U.S. locations are in Murrieta, Bakersfield and New Jersey. The company also has eight Angelika film centers, including the Angelika Film Center & Café in Carmel Mountain. Reading Cinemas directed its patrons to head there.
A handful of fans replied to the Instagram announcement with sadness.
“Actually shedding tears right now,” replied one Instagram user.
“I watched my first movie in this theatre and it was heartbreaking to see my last. Hopefully the next theatre that takes over will still offer half off (Tuesdays) to encourage people to come out to the cinemas! You will be missed Grossmont Center Reading Cinemas,” another Instagram account holder wrote.
“So sad to read this. It was such a nice theater,” wrote Instagram account holder named, aptly, everything_is_temporary76.
Staff writer Jennifer Van Grove contributed to this report.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 11:19 AM.