Beloved Marco Island theater shuts down amid rising costs

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK)—A beloved movie theater on Marco Island is closing its doors, leaving a community wondering what comes next.

For more than 30 years, this theater has been a gathering place for families, friends and generations of locals on Marco Island. After decades of memories, the curtain is closing, and for many, it feels like losing a part of home.

"We are heartbroken," Kelly Sullivan said.

This place is more than just a theater. It's a family's story.

Roberta Whitmore raised her children here. What started as a first job for her daughter turned into something more.

"This has been a staple in our life for over 30 years," Whitmore said.

That love turned into ownership for Drake Heroy.

"It was his dream to own this theater and he managed it for all those years and just bought it 4 years ago," Whitmore said.

Now that dream is slipping away. Rising costs and fewer people in seats are forcing a difficult goodbye.

"It's just, it's hard for independent movie theaters, independent businesses in general, with the rising cost of occupation, to be able to stay afloat these days," Heroy said.

The decision didn't come easy for a man who dedicated years of his life to this place.

"If you have a movie theater that you go to that you love, fight for it, continue to attend," Heroy said. "Because once these things are gone, you know, there's just really no replacement for them."

That's the reality sinking in for this community. For many here, this wasn't just a theater—it was the theater.

"I don't know what they're going to put in here," Sullivan said. "What could they possibly put in here, other than movies?"

The final day of showings will mark the end of an era for this island. Heroy says if there's one takeaway from all of this, it's to support local businesses like this.