For years, Maya Cinemas served the community of Fresno as a staple for affordable movie going. On Sept. 11 that all changed when Maya closed its doors without any warning. Just as it left, Galaxy Theaters was announced to take its spot at Campus Pointe. Galaxy opened just a week after Maya closed.

Tickets or passes purchased before the transition will still be honored by Galaxy, and can still be refunded through Maya.

Maya brought an affordable movie going experience to many people across Fresno. Maya had affordable tickets, concessions and better rewards programs compared to other theaters like Regal or Sierra Vista Cinemas 16. 

For example, prices at Galaxy to see “Spider-man: Brand New Day” for a morning or afternoon showing is $10 for children, adults and seniors. An evening ticket is $13 for adults and $10 for children, seniors and military discount. 

The price of Maya tickets for afternoon and morning were $10 for adults and $9.50 for child and senior tickets. An evening ticket was $12.75 for adults and $9.50 for child and senior tickets.

There’s been a slight increase in ticket pricing since Galaxy took over, but it’s still affordable compared to other theatres. Both Maya and Galaxy have a free rewards program that works the same where $1 is equivalent to one point, which can be used to redeem rewards.

The Fresno City College film appreciation club felt the impact.

“It was a really good theater so I’m not really sure why they closed down,” Maria Prieto, a theater major in the film appreciation club, said. 

Prieto said she enjoyed going around Campus Pointe before or after going to Maya.

“It was really fun, I’ve watched a ton of movies there I’ve lost count, and I really like that nearby there’s a Cold Stone [Creamery] and before or after the movie we went to get ice cream and it was a fun experience,” Prieto said.

Prieto prefers to go to theatres to watch blockbuster movies, Maya formerly being one of her go to theaters.

“Ive never heard of a Galaxy theatre before, it must be out of this world if it’s here in Fresno,” Prieto said.

Table with promotional images inside Galaxy Theaters taken on Sept. 24. (Photo by: Sara Cisneros)

Galaxy is a larger theater chain that operates in five states; Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Washington. Maya is a more local theater founded by Moctesuma Esparza in California with its first location being in Salinas. Maya now operates in five cities, Bakersfield, Chino, Delano, Pittsburg and North Las Vegas.

Rita Bell, a litigation paralegal and board member of Fresno Filmworks, said smaller businesses like Maya being bought out by larger businesses like Galaxy is a common issue.

Bell said this won’t be an issue for theaters downtown like the Crest Theater, but could happen again to Galaxy with an even bigger theater chain. 

“I’m more fearful of those middle guys, the small but still corporate like Maya and Galaxy because it costs a lot to operate a theater,” Bell said. “As soon as I heard Galaxy was going to take it over, I was like ‘Well crap, how long are they going to be in business?’”

Galaxy announced plans to make upgrades to the theater in the future, which Bell said is a good sign that Galaxy can stay and maintain itself longer than Maya.

“I always think it’s a bummer when any theater closes, especially one that’s a key part of the community here,” Eric Browning, film studies instructor and advisor for the film appreciation club at FCC, said. 

Browning enjoyed how Maya had events that catered to the people of Fresno, like the Sundance Film Festival.

“That one in particular did a really good job in having events that appeal to specifically the people of Fresno and collaborating with different non profit organizations,” Browning said.

Browning said Maya had a connection with the community of Fresno that other theater chains like Regal don’t have.

Galaxy Theaters has a big hole to fill now that a staple in the Fresno film community is gone. 

“Hopefully they’ll meet that need for community engagement that Maya Cinemas showed, and if they do I think that’s a positive, if they don’t though that does negatively impact the film community as a whole in the town,” Browning said. “I think now would be the best time to really start supporting the truly local.”

Browning says there are more local theaters downtown like the Crest Theater, Warnors Theatre and Tower Theatre that are worth checking out if Galaxy doesn’t meet the need Maya gave to the community.