While a number of theatres in Canada have struggled to find alternative sources of revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, one local theatre says it's doing pretty well--all things considered, of course.
Located mid-block on Dunbar Street between West 28th and West 29th Avenue in the Dunbar-Southlands neighbourhood, the Dunbar Theatre is one of the city's beloved historical venues. According to Heritage Vancouver, the theatre was completed in 1935 and is "valued for its association with film producer J. Howard Boothe, a pioneer of British Columbia’s film industry."
Unlike other independently-owned theatres, the Dunbar only shows movies--it isn't a multi-purpose venue. When the pandemic was declared last March, Ken Charko, owner of the theatre, tells Vancouver Is Awesome that he decided to stay open.
"The Dunbar Theatre is doing fantastic when it comes to profitability and revenue. We do copious amounts of off-sales, and we're one of the largest sellers of doughnuts now in the city," he says, adding that they re-branded back in March 2020. "We have never closed and every staff member has a job.
"We've hired more staff members and we've provided two separate wage bonus systems: one pandemic system that was implemented back in March and a separate bonus structure back in November."
As an example, Charko says he would do roughly $100,000 in revenue monthly but he would have to give $75,000 of that to distributors. After that, he would have about $25,000 in profit. "The revenue that I get to keep is close to where it was before."
Currently, the Dunbar Theatre sells doughnuts, popcorn, pop, coffee, candy, chocolate treats, nachos and baked goods to walk-in customers. Businesses will buy popcorn and treats for their staff in large quantities on lunch breaks, too.
"I'm an entrepreneur and I like to look at the bright side. We're open now at 2 p.m. Pre-pandemic, we wouldn't be. We have a happy hour now between 3 and 5 p.m. where people can stop by and get pop and popcorn."
UberEats is also a new revenue stream for the company, one that Charko hopes to continue after theatres are allowed to show movies again.
"The Dunbar takes a holistic approach to the pandemic."
The Dunbar Theatre has also paid its rent every month on time since the pandemic was declared and it was never forced to close.
But Charko isn't thrilled about how the provincial government has handled the pandemic as it relates to local theatres.
"The Dunbar takes a holistic approach to the pandemic," he remarks. "I would like to have more money and I think what Bonnie [Henry] is doing is wrong. I don't think she's following the science and I think she has too much on her plate.
"Mental health is equally as important as physical health," he adds, noting that theatres are safe places for people to enjoy. "People aren't supposed to talk to one another and that there is plenty of space for safe physical distancing."
Further, Charko claims he was able to get swift responses from the Province before the New Democratic Party held a majority government. Now, he says "I would have to send a hundred pigeons to get a hold of someone.
"They don't care because they don't have to."
The Dunbar Theatre is located at 4555 Dunbar Street.
