Written by Olivia Studdard, Staff Writer

Local business owner Jessica Ganas is out and about in the downtown business world again. This time with a second business venture called Cinema Downtown, and it may be her biggest hit yet.

Cinema Downtown, which is sharing a building with Ganas’s other business, Red Door Records, is located at 121 North Patterson Street in downtown Valdosta.

“Movies are a lot like music. It’s different depending on how you grew up, and classic can have so many different definitions,” Ganas said.

This is part of the reason why she strives to have a theater where people of all ages can come to enjoy a show. Movies shown will range from classic black and white films such as The Wizard of Oz to an upcoming interactive performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Other upcoming events include a Mystery Science Theater on the first Sunday in November, as well as a showing of music videos from a local band’s cd release later this year. Ganas said she hopes to include more local talent such as bands and short films.

The show times for Cinema Downtown are Wednesdays and Sundays at 8 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and a matinee showing at 3 p.m. on Saturdays.  The movies change every night, so you could go every day and see something different each time.

The prices are $8 for Thursdays through Saturdays and free on Wednesdays and Sundays.

So what’s the difference between Cinema Downtown and the movie theater we already have in town?

Unlike the larger theater in town, Cinema serves dinner and dessert options to moviegoers, as well as drinks including beer or wine, popcorn, and other traditional movie snacks. Downtown also has multiple coffee shops to visit and shop locally. But other than food, the downtown area has an atmosphere that Ganas finds it important to cater to and remember.

“We’re preserving the heritage of our town. We’re like-minded people here, getting out in a hub for community and culture. I think that’s important,” Ganas said.