Movies On Central Closes Without Warning

It's lights out for the Valley's longest-running movie rental place catering to the gay and lesbian community. Movies On Central, which has offered a variety of indie, cult, and special interest flicks since 1995 (and won six New Times Best of Phoenix awards), is gone. Doug Klinge, who owns the...

By Niki D'Andrea

June 23, 2009

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It's lights out for the Valley's longest-running movie rental place catering to the gay and lesbian community. Movies On Central, which has offered a variety of indie, cult, and special interest flicks since 1995 (and won six New Times Best of Phoenix awards), is gone.

Doug Klinge, who owns the shop Unique on Central in the same plaza, says his employees called him last Thursday night to tell him there was a big U-Haul truck in front of Movies On Central. He says he arrived at Unique early on Friday to try and talk to Movies On Central proprietor Robert Foster, but by the time he finished with early-morning customers, the U-Haul, Foster, and Movies On Central were gone.

"Since then, I've had 10 to 20 customers a day ask what happened to Movies On Central," Klinge says.

And Klinge doesn't know. He says the owner of the property (Xavier Square retail center) told him they can't discuss the situation at all, and Klinge hasn't had a chance to talk with Foster yet.

We've left messages for both Robert Foster and the owners of the shopping center. We'll post more information as it becomes available.

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Niki D'Andrea has covered subjects including drug culture, women's basketball, pirate radio stations, Scottsdale staycations, and fine wine. She has worked at both New Times and Phoenix Magazine, and is now a freelancer.

Contact: Niki D'Andrea