PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Ritz Five movie theater on Walnut Street in Old City has closed after a failed fire inspection earlier this month and must address more than a half-dozen citations before it can reopen its doors.
Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections cited the Ritz Five with seven violations of city code, including issues they found with the fire alarm system, emergency lighting, access to exits and the placement of combustible decorations.
Two key requirements are the installation of a shunt switch, which would cut off electricity to audio systems in the event of an alarm or sprinkler activation, and certification of the emergency lighting system by a licensed contractor.
In addition to the fire alarm update, the city has required the theater to remove any curtains or fabric obstructing exits and prove those materials are flame-retardant. The citations order the business to remain closed until the issues are addressed.
The citations were initially issued on March 19, following an inspection a day earlier. According to city records, inspectors returned on Aug. 11 and the site again failed evaluation. Fines on the citations total $2,800.
Landmark Theaters, which owns and operates the Ritz, has not returned a request for comment. There are currently no showtimes listed for the theater on the company’s website.
The Walnut Street movie theater must resolve 7 citations totalling nearly $3K in fines before reopening
The Walnut Street movie theater must resolve 7 citations totalling nearly $3K in fines before reopening
