17 Jan 8th-Jan 14th, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Still Closed One Phoenix film fan starts a petition to reopen the Valley Art. BY BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN T empe’s historic Valley Art theater has been closed since its pandemic shutdown in 2020. One longtime fan of the iconic local moviehouse is trying to change that. Earlier this month, Tempe resident Michael R. launched a Change.org petition urging Arizona-based chain Harkins Theatres to bring the iconic Mill Avenue cinema back to life. Titled “Tell Harkins to reopen the Valley Art Theater in Tempe,” the petition went live on Dec. 2. So far, the response has been modest. As of Jan. 6, 389 people had signed. The petition calls for the revival of the historic single-screen venue, which first opened in 1940 as the College Theatre. It also asks Harkins to renovate the space into a modern cinema while preserving its historic character. In the petition text, Michael R. argues the Valley Art represents far more than just another neighborhood theater. “For over five years, the iconic Valley Art Theater in Tempe has stood empty, a silent witness to the vibrant memories and cultural events it once hosted,” the petition states. “This theater is more than just a building; it is a cornerstone of our community, a place where friendships were forged, art was celebrated and the spirit of Tempe thrived.” The petition also emphasizes that metro Phoenix residents still value the Valley Art and want to see its screen light up again. “This is not just about saving a building,” the petition text states. “It is about nurturing a sense of belonging and shared cultural identity.” Why did the Valley Art theater in Tempe close? When COVID-19 shut down theaters across Arizona and the U.S. in March 2020, the Valley Art was among the many screens that went dark. Within a year, most cinemas locally and nationally reopened as restrictions eased, whether with limited seating, staggered showtimes or full returns. The Valley Art, though, stayed closed. That shutdown is now approaching its sixth year. During that time, Harkins has offered little clarity about the theater’s future beyond general assurances that it could reopen someday. The Valley Art’s marquee has reflected that uncertainty. One side long read, “Movies are forever. We’ll see you soon.” During part of 2022, the message changed to “We’ll see you in ’22,” hinting at a return that never arrived. It later reverted to its original promise. For metro Phoenix moviegoers and cinephiles, the waiting continues. When will the Valley Art in Tempe return? So far, Harkins has announced no firm plans to bring the Valley Art back. On Harkins’ website, the Valley Art’s page offers little clarity. “Unfortunately, this theatre remains temporarily closed. Check back or follow us on social media for updates.” Harkins’ social media channels have also been mostly silent. In recent years, the Valley Art has appeared only once, when the chain shared a vintage photo of the theater as part of its 90th anniversary celebration. In the comments, Tempe’s Victor Moreno, who runs the Valley film repertory series Cult Classics, was blunt. “Reopen it. It’d be nice to see movies there rather than the ‘movies are forever’ billboard that teases no reopening ever,” Moreno wrote. Public frustration has surfaced elsewhere online. On the r/Phoenix subreddit, posts over the past five years have focused on the Valley Art’s prolonged hiatus. Recent titles have included “Harkins, open the Valley Art Cinema, you cowards!” and “The movies might be forever, but Valley Art sure wasn’t.” Local social media users aren’t the only Phoenix residents hoping for the Valley Art’s eventual return. Downtown Tempe leaders want the Valley Art back Lori Foster, president and CEO of the Downtown Tempe Authority, says the Valley Art’s return could restore a key piece of Mill Avenue’s cultural life. “We would love for it to be open again,” Foster says. “It did well before COVID showing independent films and was really popular with ASU kids and, really, people of all ages.” Foster says officials from the Downtown Tempe Authority and the city of Tempe have met multiple times with Dan Harkins to discuss the theater’s future, most recently about eight months ago. Those talks included ideas for expanding how the space could be used. Foster says possibilities ranged from hosting film festivals to partnering with nearby venues like the Tempe Improv to add comedy or other live programming. Even with those ideas on the table, Foster says reopening the Valley Art has been difficult to justify financially. She says Harkins has pointed to the theater’s single-screen layout and broader struggles facing the cinema industry. “They’ve stated that the cinema industry is suffering, it doesn’t pay to keep (the Valley Art) open because it’s very limited in what it can play,” Foster says. “And they’ve got investments in other properties. You name it, there’s a reason why it’s not open.” Foster says Harkins representatives have also told her that any reopening would likely require major upgrades, including adding food and beverage options as new revenue streams. “They were like, ‘Theatergoers today are looking for more of an experience. They want food, a bar and comfy seats’ and all these things,” Foster says. That vision largely aligns with what the petition’s organizer has called for. When Foster learned about the petition, she was quick to support it and says others at the Downtown Tempe Authority to do the same. “I’m happy to sign it,” Foster says. “In fact, we’ll get everybody here to sign it.” The Valley Art’s marquee has featured a hopeful message of its potential return for several years following its 2020 shutdown. (Ernie Quiroz) ▼ Arts & Culture
