By Mike Hazlip—
Thousands of dollars worth of drywall sheets and concrete bags, apparently left behind in the wake of Studio Movie Grill’s bankruptcy, now sit at the site damaged by weather.
On Tuesday, more than 300 sheets of drywall could be seen stacked near the former Kmart building, rain-soaked and warped from being left outdoors. Nearby, bags of concrete on a pallet have hardened since the company ceased construction at the site during the pandemic and never resumed.
Patrick Murphy, a property manager for the site, told The Sentinel in a phone call Wednesday he was not aware of materials left at the site. Murphy speculated the materials are “likely” leftover from previous work at the site by another contractor.
A materials calculator from Home Depot shows 300 sheets of drywall have an estimated value of over $3,000.
The Sentinel previously reported Studio Movie Grill halted construction at the site in 2020, with the company later filing for bankruptcy after citing the “unparalleled impact of COVID-19.”
Murphy said plans are moving forward for a new tenant at the site, adding that the city of Citrus Heights has been supportive of efforts to attract tenants to the center.
In a related story, anchor tenant Big Lots announced they are closing their Citrus Heights location after three years at the site. Murphy said the company is closing more than 30 locations overall.
Last year, three new businesses joined the center, including a new nail salon, a cafe and a discount wholesaler. The future of the former Studio Grill Site remains unconfirmed, although a leasing brochure dated Sept. 22, 2022, shows plans for a theater and does not list the site as available.
Related: A spark of hope for abandoned Studio Movie Grill site on Auburn Blvd
