KP Cinemas — Local services in Kalamazoo

I think like most who've been to theaters that's been updated in the last few years, I have certain expectations. I wanted to support a local business so I purposely went to this theater last night.

Initial thoughts: 1 staff behind the counter for a Sat evening was odd. As the line got busier, another person helped out. I saw two others just sitting by the "bar" not doing anything. I asked about alcohol and they're still waiting for their liquor license. But still, staff doing nothing when it's kinda busy again is odd. Didn't see staff outside of the counter area.

Food: food and drinks are the typical theater items (popcorn, corn dogs, pretzels, etc). Per an article, they'll have more food options coming. Pop and icee self-dispensers are available. Seasoning on the side for popcorn is available.

Generally clean lounge and theater.

Comfort: Seats (leather) recline but they're def smaller (width) than other ones we've been to. No tables or anything to put food on - odd. Just drink holders. Felt like AC was on, was cool the entire time. They didn't turn off the lights in the theater when the movie started so my husband went out to say something THEN they clicked them off after - odd that it's not automatic with the start of the movie.

Sound is louder than normal but I liked it since usually I feel like the movie isn't loud enough in most theaters so that's a plus lol.

Since parking can be a hassle downtown, I'm not sure if I'd go back regularly. But it was nice to visit (since it was the Alamo) and I wasn't completely...

They charge extra for buying tickets online. It costs them less for this but they gouge their customers anyway. It's sad

UPDATE: After I posted this, they replied, essentially saying two things: most other movie theaters also do this, which is true. And not a justification -- this is saying "we can get away with it." But also notable that a previous occupant of the exact same space, a profitable one at that, did not charge their customers extra for buying tickets online. You'll also note that restaurants, airlines, grocery stores, online shops, bookstores, hardware stores, etc instead somehow manage to get by despite taking online orders and not charging extra for it

And that it costs more to be able to issue tickets online, which would be laughable if it weren't so insulting -- it's far cheaper for them to have a website than to have additional staff at a ticket counter

UPDATE TWO! Got a facebook message yesterday morning -- the general manager tracked me down to a different social medium to let me know he feels it's unfair that I left this review because I'm letting their corporate policy affect their rating and that the people at the local place work hard. Which, I'm sure they do. And yet the place has a corporate policy of ripping off...

Really disappointing experience at KP Cinemas today. Bought a ticket online and when I arrived there wasn’t anyone actually scanning tickets. Anybody could have just walked in. The lobby was relatively clean and there was a nice employee at the snack stand which is why I’m not giving 1 star.

In the theater for my movie (no.1) there was clearly a projector with a lower lumen count than necessary or perhaps something wrong with the bulb. The film was too dark. There was also a pulsating humming sound coming from the back of the theatre - maybe the projector room? Nobody came and checked on the theater. Most theaters I go to send an employee in once or twice to make sure everything is okay. There were 3 kids in the back row talking nonstop and towards the end they stood up and started repeatedly hitting each other.

I live and work downtown and believe in patronizing downtown businesses to maintain amenities for everyone but I won’t choose to purchase another ticket here unless the theater solves these issues and issues a statement after doing so, so that I know they’ve been fixed. I’m not going to just buy another ticket in 6 months and hope...