Theaters, stores close up shop around campus

and Jorie Green "Out of Business" signs and vacant storefronts will greet many students as they return to campus this fall. The United Artists Campus theater on 40th Street closed in August and the AMC Walnut Mall 3 theater at 39th and Walnut streets will close when its lease ends in November. Associate Treasurer Christopher Mason said the theaters, which are popular among students because of their discounted movie tickets, are closing because they can not keep up with competition from larger theaters in the area. A new cinema might move into one of the sites, Mason said, but he added, "I don't think you'll see two different movie houses [again]." The Italian Bistro bid arrivederci to the Shops At Penn in July, becoming the fourth company to leave the shopping area at 3401 Walnut Street this summer. Quantum Books, The Lodge and Perfect Pretzel each went out of business during the past few months for "business and economic reasons," former Executive Vice President Janet Hale said. And although the Italian Bistro restaurant chain is still functioning -- with Bistros in operation at two other Philadelphia locations -- Bistro owner Marco Longo did not choose to renew his lease at the University City location, his wife Monica said. Shops at Penn Manager Mike Fox said the recent exodus of companies out of the 3401 shopping area may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. "There is serious interest [from other companies] in all of these stores," Fox said. "The changes will provide us with the opportunity to improve the shopping center." Mason said that despite the recent closings, the University's status among retailers as a strong consumer's market is still intact. "There are 30,000 square feet of retail space on this campus," he said. "And 90 to 95 percent of it is occupied." "For each one there's a different story," Hale said. "With the Lodge, for example, the whole company was bought out." The Bistro, on the other hand, lost customers because it was "old," Fox said. "It was dated and it looked worn," he said. "The interior was all worn out." But Monica Longo, who manages the Bistro in the Franklin Mills Mall, said the company relocated the University City restaurant to Wilmington, Del., because of all the crime around campus. "There were break-ins during the night -- we were calling the police every night," she said. "Customers' bags were stolen [and] everything was [missing] all the time." Longo added that the crime resulted in less of a dinner crowd after 8 p.m. at the University City location. But University Police Sergeant Joseph Risoli said University Police have not responded to any complaints at the Bistro since November 1993. Despite these closings, there will be three new additions to campus this fall. Boccie Pizza and Salads restaurant at 4040 Locust Street reopened in July. A Boston Chicken restaurant also opened in July on the corner of 39th and Chestnut streets. And a Convenient Food store will open this month in the space formerly occupied by the WaWa food market at 39th and Walnut streets. Mason said Convenient Foods will use the same equipment as the former WaWa, and will sell similar items.

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