Santa Rosa, CA — After months of uncertainty and speculation, Summerfield Cinemas, the five-screen theater known for its focus on independent and foreign films, will officially close its doors in March. The closure marks the end of an era for a venue that has been a beloved fixture in Sonoma County for decades.
Dan Tocchini, of Santa Rosa Entertainment Group, which has operated the theater for years, confirmed the news in an email to the public on Tuesday. Tocchini explained that the business had struggled to recover in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a significant decline in art-house films being released to theaters.
“We really appreciate the public in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County in supporting the theater over the years. It’s been a delight to run,” Tocchini said. “It’s a theater that we all love and cherish, but time ran out for the business.”
The closure of Summerfield Cinemas adds to the growing list of small, local theaters that have shuttered in recent years. More than 30 movie screens have been lost across Sonoma County, with notable closures such as the Rohnert Park Reading Cinemas in November 2023. This ongoing contraction of the local cinema industry has been a major blow to moviegoers who prefer the charm of independently operated theaters over the convenience of larger chain cinemas.
Summerfield’s final screening will take place on March 9, bringing to an end its decades-long history as a cultural hub for film buffs. The theater, which originally opened as the two-screen Park Cinema in the late 1960s, was remodeled and reopened as the Lakeside 5 in 1989. Over the years, it evolved into a venue that specialized in second-run films and later expanded its focus to include independent and foreign films.
Though Summerfield Cinemas’ closure is a sad chapter for the local community, it is also a sign of the challenges that many small theaters face in the current film industry landscape. Fewer art-house films are being produced, and the rise of streaming services has further eroded audiences for these niche screenings.
The closure also comes amidst a controversial proposal to redevelop the theater’s location in the Lakeside Shopping Center into a Planet Fitness gym. While plans for the gym initially advanced, including city approval for a minor conditional use permit, those plans were recently put on hold due to complications with the property’s sale. Despite the setback, supporters of the theater had already rallied to preserve the building’s cinematic legacy.
Local advocacy group, the Citizens Committee to Save Summerfield Cinemas, pushed hard for the preservation of the space, even organizing rallies and gathering petition signatures in hopes of keeping the theater alive. Their efforts were met with strong support from residents who viewed the theater as a key part of the community’s cultural fabric.
Derek Stefan, a member of the Save Summerfield campaign, expressed his disappointment over the closure, calling it a “devastating” moment for the community.
“I’ve been so appreciative of them keeping movies going,” Stefan said. “It’s a sad time for us. So many people wanted to see the cinema continue.”
The Tocchini family, who has a nearly century-long history in Sonoma County’s theater business, had hoped to keep the cinema open despite financial challenges. However, the uncertainty surrounding the property’s future, coupled with the ongoing decline of smaller theater operations, led to the difficult decision to close.
As the community bids farewell to Summerfield Cinemas, many are left reflecting on the importance of such local institutions and the challenges they face in an era dominated by large chains and digital streaming. For some, the loss of Summerfield will be more than just the closing of a movie theater—it will be the closing of a cherished space where film lovers gathered to experience something unique and special.
The final curtain for Summerfield Cinemas will fall on March 9, but its impact on the local cultural landscape will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.