410 Forum — Arts
Kress Attracts Students
By Drew McConnell
The iridescent pink and light blue neon lights on Eighth Avenue in Greeley command attention. The block where the Ice Haus sits has another great place to lounge, drink or to watch a good film, perhaps after an afternoon of skating. The lights of the theater are almost as intoxicating as the orange glow of the sunset. The Kress cinema is a rose sitting in a field of dandelions, a beautiful and attractive building right in the middle of downtown Greeley.
The Kress cinema is not merely a movie theater, it is a magnet for people who are eager to socialize and lounge. The Kress, along with Patrick’s Pub, is the first of two new venues in which college students are brought together in the downtown area of Greeley. Linde Thompson and her husband Ron opened the Kress Cinema in September and are hoping that the business will bring new flair to the downtown area.
“Downtown Greeley needed a place where people wanted to go to hang out,” Thompson said.
A look at the Kress Cinema from outside is not enough, because there is more to this theater than what is visible from the street. The door swings open, and the mood of the room is immediately overwhelming. The sound of jazz or big band music radiates the air with a nostalgic aura. The lounge is lit brightly by the neons, but dimly enough by the overhead lights to be relaxing. Several people sit at the bar, ordering drinks that are affectionately named after famous movies.
The overhead lights shine on the glasses that sit on top of the counter, and they glimmer like diamonds. The bartender is dressed casually, yet he out-dresses all of the people in the room, reminiscent of a hotel bar. It would be easy to forget that this lounge is actually inside of a movie theater, but the nostalgic memorabilia of Charlie Chaplin and Audrey Hepburn keep that reality alive, along with the subtle images of film reels that are on everything from signs to tables.
The business has been a great draw for college students, and as a result, downtown Greeley itself has become a more enticing place for younger people to party. Patrick’s Irish Pub may be a hot spot right now downtown, but people have to remember that the Kress came first.
“I’ve been hanging out downtown a lot more recently, and I usually go to the Kress. It’s just a great place,” UNC student Greyson Lewis said.
The lounge is slightly crowded with people but is not suffocating. Muffled conversations echo inside the room and mix with the light music to form a rhythmic dance of sound. The darkness of the night can only be seen by looking out of the windows and the lounge is alive with human interaction. Some people show up for the evening showing of “Milk,” but there is no pressure to see the film. Others simply sit at the bar, or in one of the booths, and talk with friends.
Thompson has tried to attract students to the Kress by holding various events since the theater opened. Every Sunday, they show a classic movie with free admission, and the Kress also hosted parties for the Academy Awards, the Super Bowl and the season premiere of “Lost.”
The Penalty Box around the corner has been the traditional hang-out spot for UNC students downtown.
“It’s not like the Penalty Box, but we’re trying to attract students,” Thompson said.
It’s getting late, and the last screening of the night is over. Most of the people have left, but there are still patrons enjoying the company of friends, and of the employees of the theater. The bartender talks casually with a customer, but the conversation seems like one between two old friends, not between customer and employee. The young man serves drinks and cracks jokes with the few people who are still there. He stays busy cleaning and serving people, but maintains a light-hearted and jovial attitude. He enjoys his job, and is also able to get his work done well.
“The bartenders here are awesome. They joke and laugh with you, it’s almost like they’re partying with you,” said UNC student Andrew Hoelsken.
The end of the night comes usually around midnight, and those few people are still sitting in the lounge. People begin to gravitate towards the exit. Brooms sweep along the vintage maple floors, counters are cleaned, and refrigerators are locked. Another day is over, but it has been filled with laughter and stimulating conversation and The Kress has been more than just a movie theater.
The Kress
The Kress is a casual cinema-lounge, but is still surrounded by film, even in the food and drink menus, as can be seen by the names of their treats:
• Big Fish and Chips.
• A Fish Taco Called Wanda.
• Lord of the Fries .
• A vegetarian dish called Soylent Green.
• A White Russian called The Big Lebowski.
Source: The Kress
