If you grew up in West Columbus, the Westland Mall movie theater—formally known as the AMC Westland 8—probably holds a specific, sticky-floored spot in your memory. It was the place for cheap matinees, questionable nacho cheese, and that weirdly specific 1990s mall energy. But if you’ve driven past the intersection of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road lately, you know the vibe has shifted from "nostalgic" to "apocalyptic."
The reality of the Westland Mall movie theater isn't a story of a thriving cinema. It’s a case study in retail decay and the complicated, slow-motion legal battles of Midwest redevelopment.
The Rise and Ghosting of AMC Westland 8
The theater wasn't always a shell. Back in its heyday, the AMC Westland 8 was a cornerstone of the Westland Mall complex, which opened in 1969 as an open-air center before being enclosed in 1982. For a long time, it worked. You’d grab a shirt at JC Penney, maybe a pretzel, and catch a flick. It was convenient. It was the neighborhood spot.
Then the Sears closed. Then the Penney's. Then the mall itself effectively shuttered in 2011, leaving only the Staples and a few outparcels gasping for air. The movie theater hung on longer than most, but by the mid-2010s, the writing was on the crumbling drywall. AMC eventually pulled the plug, and the building joined the rest of the 800,000-square-foot complex in a state of suspended animation.
People often ask why it’s still standing. Honestly? It's expensive to kill something that big.
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Why Nobody Is Watching Movies at Westland Anymore
You can't just walk in and buy a ticket. The Westland Mall movie theater is part of a massive brownfield site. For years, the property was caught in a tug-of-war between the city of Columbus and the owners, LNR Partners. The city wanted it gone because it was a magnet for "scrappers" (people who rip out copper wiring) and vagrancy. LNR was sitting on it.
In 2019, the narrative finally started to shift when Weston Inc. bought the site. But if you were expecting a new IMAX to pop up immediately, you’ve been disappointed.
Demolition finally began in earnest in 2023. This wasn't a "blow it up with dynamite" situation. It's been a surgical, slow-moving process of clearing out asbestos and tearing down the skeletal remains of the mall. The theater area, specifically, has been a focal point of this cleanup. The goal isn't another theater; the goal is a multi-use "live-work-play" district called Weston Park. Think apartments, green space, and probably a Chipotle.
The "New" Competition: Where People Go Now
Since the Westland cinema went dark, the movie-going habits of West Side residents have migrated. It’s not like people stopped watching movies; they just stopped doing it at a dead mall.
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- AMC Georgesville 16: This is the literal successor. Just down the road, it’s bigger, cleaner, and has the reclining seats that Westland never got. It basically cannibalized whatever was left of the Westland audience before the mall even closed.
- Movie Tavern Mill Run: About 15 minutes north. It’s for the crowd that wants a full meal and a beer with their blockbuster.
- Gateway Film Center: For the nerds and the cinephiles who want indie films and a different vibe entirely.
The Westland Mall movie theater simply couldn't compete with the "luxury" theater trend. When people can stay home and watch Netflix on a 65-inch 4K screen, a theater needs to offer more than just a flickering projector and flat soda. Westland was stuck in 1995, and the market moved on without it.
The Asbestos and Asphalt Problem
One reason the demolition of the theater and the surrounding mall has taken so long is the environmental baggage. When these structures were built, builders used materials we now know are toxic.
Weston Inc. and the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority have had to navigate significant environmental remediation. You can’t just knock down a theater full of old insulation and stage rigging without making sure you aren't poisoning the neighborhood. It’s a "dirty" job in the most literal sense.
The site is massive—over 80 acres. To put that in perspective, you could fit several Ohio Stadiums inside that footprint. Clearing that much concrete and steel takes tens of millions of dollars and years of bureaucratic paperwork.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Site
There’s a persistent rumor that the theater might be "renovated."
Let's be clear: That is not happening.
The building has been open to the elements for years. Roof leaks, mold, and vandalism have stripped away any structural integrity the cinema had left. It is a teardown. Period. The future of that specific patch of dirt is likely residential or light commercial.
Also, despite what you might see on "Urban Explorer" YouTube channels, the site is dangerous. The floorboards in many of these old theater rooms are rotted, and the air quality is questionable at best. It’s not a time capsule; it’s a hazard.
Actionable Steps for West Side Residents
If you’re looking for ways to engage with the future of the Westland site or just need a place to see a movie today, here’s the move:
- Check the Weston Park Timeline: Keep an eye on the Columbus Department of Development updates. The "Weston Park" project is a long-term play, but they release phase updates every 6-12 months.
- Don't Trespass: It’s tempting to go take "sad mall" photos. Don't. Security has been beefed up because of the demolition equipment on-site, and the structural risks are real.
- Support the Alternatives: If you miss the community feel of a local theater, the AMC Georgesville 16 is your closest bet for a "mall theater" experience, while the Movie Tavern offers a more modern night out.
- Voice Your Opinion: The city often holds community meetings regarding the zoning of the Westland redevelopment. If you want more entertainment options—like a bowling alley or a boutique cinema—in the new development, show up to those zoning board meetings.
The Westland Mall movie theater is effectively a ghost now. It’s a landmark of a version of Columbus that doesn't exist anymore. While the nostalgia is real, the future of the site is much more likely to be a place where people live and work, rather than a place where they watch the latest Marvel movie. The screen has gone dark for the last time, and the bulldozers are finally finishing the job.