ASU moviegoers at the Downtown campus now have a place to kick back, watch a film and enjoy a beer.
Located just north of the campus, FilmBar, a privately owned bar and theater, opened Thursday near Garfield and 2nd streets. The theater will show independent, classic and art films, as well as documentaries.
“I wanted to put a twist on movies and avoid the conventional theaters such as AMC and Harkins,” owner Kelly Aubey said.
The theater will include snacks and a full bar with local and imported beers, ciders and sodas. Films by local artists will be shown.
“It is something new and it is something vibrant,” said Julie De Anda, an opening night attendee.
By: Jonathan Ortiz
De Anda heard about the opening through her work.
“It is in a great location and it is good to know what’s going on,” De Anda said.
The theater is a 10-minute walk from two light rail stations and about a five-minute walk from the Downtown campus.
“It’s not your average theater,” cocktail waitress Emily Winkler said.
Patrons are able to order drinks before, during and after a show. There is a bar seating area and a separate lounge with additional seating and tables for guests.
Steve Weiss, film programmer of the bar’s theater, said there are few places in the downtown area that show art house films.
“I look for great films to bring to FilmBar,” Weiss said.
Having a theater is an incentive for people to go to the bar, accounting junior Amanda Mandfredi said.
“Bars need something different to open up,” she said.
Business communications junior Randy Graves said the bar and theater is a starting point for the downtown area to become big.
“This could be the chance for a second Mill Avenue,” Graves said.
Reach the reporter at cstarboa@asu.edu
