Denouement on Eureka Street: The Slow Decay and Sudden Silence of Look Cinemas
By David James Heiss
Redlands News Collective
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as Kris Innerman printed his ticket in the lobby of Look Dine-In Cinemas in Redlands for the 12:50 p.m. showing of the science fiction thriller “Iron Lung” on Feb. 1.
Photo by David James Heiss
A Jan. 12, 2026 shot of Look Cinemas.
By the time the movie ended, the scene was shockingly different: Employees were packing boxes of materials and equipment. Activity and foot traffic were winding down. All future screenings had been canceled.
The closure of the Eureka Street theater — and simultaneous shuttering of Look locations in Monrovia and Downey — was the culmination of a two-year financial spiral. While the chain’s troubles first became public through a $1.3 million rent dispute in Los Angeles, federal bankruptcy records show the company’s debts eventually ballooned to over $9 million, leading a Texas judge to order the surrender of the properties in early 2026.
The financial strain is also visible in local tax records. Despite the property's prime location, San Bernardino County records show the 2025-2026 property taxes for the site are currently delinquent, with a balance exceeding $58,000 following a missed December deadline. In commercial leases of this type, such tax payments are typically the responsibility of the tenant, further illustrating the breakdown in the chain’s ability to meet its basic operational costs.
Bewildered guests shuffling in to the Redlands location were being directed to reach out to the corporation for refunds on tickets, and the nearly $100 annual Infinity Passes that were renewed shortly after Thanksgiving, guaranteeing pass holders a “free” movie a day for a year.
Photo by David James Heiss
Boxes await pickup in photo taken Feb. 6, 2026.
The company has officially directed guests to resume using their passes at the Glendale location, nearly 60 miles away. Those seeking refunds have been instructed to email guest.services@lookcinemas.com. However, federal court orders governing the company’s remaining "cash collateral" prioritize the payment of essential bankruptcy expenses and secured creditors, likely creating significant obstacles for customers seeking immediate cash reimbursements for unused passes.
In those final hours, employees passed around vague rumors that the theater’s lease was not renewed, and their suspicions were not unfounded. Dallas-based Look Cinemas II, LLC has been navigating bankruptcy proceedings in a Dallas federal court since November 2024. Recent court orders forced the company to turn over leases to its landlords by Jan. 31, 2026. The company also rejected its leases for theaters in Manhattan, New York; Tampa, Florida; and Renton, Washington, effectively shuttering those locations.
Photo by David James Heiss
For now, visitors to nearby Redlands Public Market don’t need to fear parking restrictions at the former theater.
An inquiry has been submitted to Look Cinemas lead bankruptcy counsel Frank J. Wright for potential comment and insight to the matter.
According to Innerman, there were was no sign employees were aware of their pending fate when he arrived that afternoon.
“It was like a normal day,” Innerman said. “By the time the movie was over, everyone was packing. Some of the employees found out just that day that they were shutting down. When I walked out, I honestly thought they had received some big shipment of supplies, but then I noticed some of the supplies looked like they have been used, and then I looked over at the bar and noticed he was putting things away in boxes — not taking them out.”
When he realized what was happening, he turned to his companion. “Hey babe, I think there’s a problem,” he said.
Dallas-based Spirit Master Funding X, LLC, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Spirit Realty Capital, the landlord for the property at 340 N. Eureka St. that includes Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant, sought to seize roughly $1.36 million in assets through a Los Angeles lawsuit in late 2024. While a judge issued a tentative ruling in favor of the landlord, the legal effort was effectively halted by the "automatic stay" triggered when Look Cinemas II, LLC sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The landlord's claims of unpaid rent from early 2024 eventually became a central issue in the Texas proceedings, leading to the chain's decision in January 2026 to surrender its master lease for locations in Redlands, Downey and Monrovia.
The theater opened Nov. 26, 1997, as Krikorian Premiere Theatres, just in time for the release of “Titanic” a few weeks later. It was taken over by Studio Movie Grill in September 2017, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The site was reborn as Look Cinemas in May 2021.
Location alone was not enough to keep some visitors happy.
Look Cinemas “was always dirty and understaffed,” said Ethan Allred, a Redlands East Valley High School alumnus currently studying at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. “I would choose Harkins almost every time, because their cinema is kept to a higher standard and was well-maintained.”
“Their Cine1 Dolby Atmos is the superior way of watching a movie within a reasonable distance,” Allred said. “The only reason I would go to Look was in the rare case of a movie being exclusive to that theater,” such as when he went to see the Spike Lee joint “Highest 2 Lowest.”
Photo by David James Heiss
The empty lobby of Look Cinemas, taken Feb. 6.
Robby Pingkin, a sales associate who lives in Redlands, grew up with the Krikorian and says he misses the original theater.
“The last time I went to Look was to see ‘Deadpool,’” he said. “Krikorian used to be elite. When it opened I was completely in awe. The last time I went there it was subpar. The atmosphere no longer was what it was, and it felt like a ghost town. The stuffing in some of the seats was coming out, and some of the buttons to order food were missing.”
Pingkin said he preferred the traditional concession stand, which was removed in favor of in-theater dining when Studio Movie Grill took over. Studio Movie Grill is also credited with adding restrooms on the ground floor; they were only available on the second level under the original layout.
Innerman noted that a few years ago the theater struggled with an odor resulting from a septic issue. A hospital maintenance worker, Innerman said he suggested a solution to managers. The problem was finally resolved after he notified manager Chris Holton.
Holton, who worked at Look for nearly three years, said the closure had nothing to do with local operations. Like the rest of the staff, he learned of the abrupt closure the day it happened.
Holton, who commuted from Upland, was surprised to learn his job was eliminated.
“I had lots of customers who used us all the time, and we got to be part of the community — it was part of our mission,” said Holton, who regularly wore colorful Hawaiian shirts. “I love Redlands, I love the people in Redlands. It was a privilege.”
The loss of Look Cinemas hit hard for Redlands resident Victoria Irazoque, a loyal Infinity Pass holder who went to Look “pretty regularly.”
“The theater is a place where I find the most comfort in my life,” said Irazoque, who is disabled due to an injury. “Sometimes it was only once a week, sometimes four times a week. Depending on releases — and, of course, if there was one movie I simply needed to watch again.”
She admitted that she is shy, though she knew the staff and was confident they all knew her.
Photo by Victoria Irazoque
Bittersweet emptiness on Look theater’s final night.
“I was there the night Look closed down,” she said. “I was literally scrolling through Facebook when I saw someone post a picture of the place with boxes all around. I called my partner right away” to pick her up and immediately go investigate. “It was true,” she said. “The workers welcomed us and let us know it was the last day. I pretty much started crying. Look really means a lot to me. After all, I was in the building more times than not.”
According to Irazoque, “Staff offered us to stay and watch whatever movies they were playing. We chose to watch ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash.’ We were able to get lots of snacks, popcorn and candy, since they were making it to give away. Staff were really sad, some were upset, but they presented with kindness for their last day.”
She and her partner left around 8 p.m.
“It was all very bittersweet, and I only hope the best to all the workers. I hope another theater comes along soon.”
Holton, a longtime chef, said this was his first experience as a front-of-house manager.
“It was times, it was memories, kids coming to see their first movies, families coming back to the theater that they’d been to as kids, and pointing out to Al’s picture and saying I was the new Al,” he said.
He was referring to the late Al Harris, the longtime theater greeter who began working at the Krikorian in 1998. Harris, known for his high-fives and custom handshakes, died during the pandemic. The city renamed Shoppers Lane to Al Harris Lane in his honor in 2022.
A special display dedicated to Harris disappeared during closing day. Holton said a man claiming he would donate it to the Museum of Redlands packed it up and took it away.
Nathan Gonzales, archivist at A.K. Smiley Public Library, which oversees the museum, said no one connected to the museum has received the materials.
“Unfortunately, no employee connected to Museum of Redlands, and no one legitimately connected otherwise, has brought forward any material from the theater documenting Al Harris,” Gonzales said.
Holton and employees packed remaining items into U-Hauls bound for Glendale — Look’s only remaining California location.
Court filings indicate the Glendale site was exempt from the closures because it was the only one of the four California properties not owned by Spirit Master Funding X, LLC.
According to court records, Spirit Master entered into a lease with Look Cinemas that was not set to expire until June 30, 2036.
For further reading on the court case, some basics can be found here: SPIRIT MASTER FUNDING X, LLC VS LOOK CINEMAS II, LLC, ET AL.
While the theater remains dark, the property is already being marketed to new occupants. On Jan. 27, 2026, the 55,273-square-foot space was listed for lease by Newport Beach-based Strategic Retail Advisors, which touts the site as a turn-key opportunity with a liquor license and luxury infrastructure intact.
Photo by Michelle Miranda
Theater manager Chris Holton, second from left in front row, with his crew as they wrap up their careers with Look Cinemas.
However, any future tenant may have to contend with more than just a new lease. San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) filings indicate an active interest in a portion of the land. Because the theater sits adjacent to a major transit corridor, the SBCTA has engaged in discussions — and potential litigation — regarding an easement or "partial taking" of the land.
Such a move could complicate future operations, as a new tenant might face significant construction or the permanent loss of prime parking spaces.
All the legal proceedings and rent issues “were above my pay grade,” Holton said.
“We were making it, we were being successful and doing everything we needed to do” in Redlands, Holton said. He added that the theater seemed to be moving in the right direction and was in the process of receiving new seat covers and a drink station.
“This was one of the most positive experiences of my life and I’m so sad that it is over,” Holton said. “The employees were like family. We had to take it apart together and handled it like a family, and I’m really proud of them for that.”