07/16/2026
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had several customers ask questions about how the Historic Strand operates, so I wanted to take a few minutes to explain some of the reasons behind what we do.
Online Ticket Purchases
One question I’ve received concerns our online ticketing system. Some customers noticed that if there were four seats left in a row, the system wouldn’t allow them to purchase only three of those seats.
The online ticketing system is controlled by a third-party company, not by the Strand. I knew it was designed to prevent leaving a single empty seat between groups, but I wasn’t aware it was also requiring customers to purchase additional seats in certain situations.
I contacted the company and worked through the issue with them, and they have removed that restriction. As far as I know, you should now be able to purchase only the number of seats you actually want. The only restriction that remains is that the system still will not allow you to leave a single empty seat between you and another party, and unfortunately I was unable to have that changed.
Just for clarification, the Historic Strand doesn’t actually sell tickets online ourselves. Online sales are handled through third-party vendors, so there are some limitations on what I can control. Thankfully, I believe we’ve gotten this issue resolved.
Why We Bring You an Empty Drink Cup
Another question I get is why our servers often bring an empty cup instead of a filled drink.
We are absolutely happy to fill your drink for you. That’s what we’re here for.
The reason we usually bring an empty cup is simply speed. We often seat 80 or more guests in about 15 to 20 minutes while also taking orders and delivering food and drinks. Filling every fountain drink ourselves takes about 20 seconds per drink. Multiply that by 80 guests, and it would significantly delay everyone getting their food.
For that reason, we offer guests the option of filling their own drink. However, we’ve always made it clear that if you’d rather have us fill it, just ask. It’s printed on the menu at your table, shown on the screen before the movie, and our servers are always happy to do it.
One idea I’ve considered is offering bottled soft drinks. That would allow us to bring you a sealed drink without you ever leaving your seat. The downside is that bottled drinks cost considerably more than fountain drinks, so they would have to be priced higher.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Would you rather:
* Fill your own fountain drink?
* Wait until we’re finished seating so we can fill it for you?
* Or purchase a bottled drink and have it brought directly to your seat?
Please send me a private message with your opinion.
Why We Don’t Sell Everything at the Counter
Another question is why we don’t simply let everyone buy popcorn, drinks, and food at the concession counter.
The answer is actually pretty simple.
The Strand is nearly 100 years old, and the hallway is only about 10 feet wide. Imagine 80 people arriving at once, all trying to stand in line in that hallway. We actually operated that way years ago, and it was complete chaos.
Not only would it create long lines, but it would also delay everyone getting into the auditorium. On top of that, it becomes much harder to ensure guests are sitting in the correct seats so our servers can accurately deliver food orders.
That’s why we use our in-theater ordering system.
Once you’re seated, you simply scan the QR code. Your payment is processed immediately, and your order goes directly to the kitchen or concession stand, where we begin preparing it right away. Multiple people can order at the same time, which is much faster than one long concession line.
We also understand that not everyone is comfortable with technology. That’s why we installed the self-service kiosk in the lobby. While kiosk orders may take a little longer because we prioritize guests already seated in the theater, it is always available for anyone who prefers that option.
Some people have asked why we don’t simply staff both a full concession line and full in-theater service. The answer is that it would nearly double our labor costs, and those additional costs would ultimately have to be passed along in food prices. We work very hard to keep our prices reasonable while still providing table service.
We Truly Want Your Feedback
My personal cell phone is 912-424-7075.
If you have a concern, a suggestion, or simply don’t understand why we do something, please text me. Please don’t assume we don’t care or go straight to Facebook before giving me the opportunity to fix the issue.
At the end of the day, we’re a locally owned, small-town theater. Without you, we simply wouldn’t be here.
That’s why I put my phone number everywhere. People text me during movies, late at night, or whenever something isn’t right. Sometimes they’ll text me that they haven’t received an item yet, and I’ll immediately contact the manager to check on them.
You simply don’t get that kind of direct access at a large corporate theater.
Thank you for supporting the Historic Strand. We truly appreciate every single one of you, and we’re always looking for ways to make your experience even better.
If you have questions, ideas, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to text me. I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
