Marcus
An American publicly traded hospitality and entertainment company operating movie theaters, hotels, resorts, and related leisure businesses.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Marcus Corporation is a Milwaukee-based American hospitality and entertainment company whose principal activities are organized around two divisions: Marcus Theatres and Marcus Hotels and Resorts. The company traces its origins to November 1, 1935, when Ben Marcus purchased a single movie-theater screen in Ripon, Wisconsin. That original operation, now known as Campus Cinema and located near Ripon College, remained part of the company's theater portfolio and developed a programming mix aimed at adults and families. Over time, Marcus expanded from a local exhibition business into a broader leisure enterprise. Marcus Theatres owns or manages cinemas across the United States and combines conventional film exhibition with food service, premium amenities, alternative programming, loyalty and ticketing services, and dine-in theater concepts. As of September 30, 2023, the theater division operated 79 theaters containing 993 screens in 17 states. Its portfolio has grown through both organic development and acquisitions, including the purchase of seven Nebraska theater locations from Douglas Theatre Company in 2008, the acquisition of 14 Wehrenberg Theatres locations in 2016, and the purchase of Movie Tavern from Southern Theatres, a transaction announced in 2018 and completed in February 2019. Movie Tavern broadened Marcus's exposure to in-theater dining. The concept originated in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2001 and combines first-run movies with waiter-served food and beverages. The 2019 transaction added 22 locations and 208 screens and extended Marcus's theater presence into several states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Marcus has also pursued digital ticketing and programming initiatives. It partnered with MovieTickets.com for advance ticket sales, later extended that relationship, and made Fandango its preferred ticketing partner beginning in 2015. Initiatives introduced during the 2010s included discounted Tuesday admission, the Theatre Entertainment Network alternative-content block, and Indie Focus programming for independent and art films. The hotel division, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, owns or manages hotels and resorts in a number of U.S. states, including California, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. The division's portfolio has included full-service hotels, destination resorts, and a Wisconsin vacation-club operation. Earlier in its history, the company also operated restaurant franchises, including Marc's Big Boy restaurants and Kentucky Fried Chicken locations in the Milwaukee area. Marcus sold its KFC franchises by 1992 and closed its final Marc's restaurant in 1995. The Baymont Inn & Suites business, once a significant hotel asset, was sold to La Quinta Corporation in 2003. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the theater business. Marcus closed its Marcus Cinemas and Movie Tavern locations after evening performances on March 17, 2020, following public-health restrictions and comparable closures across the exhibition industry. Reopening began gradually in late June 2020, followed by a broader rollout in August intended to coincide with the release of Tenet. Because film releases were delayed and attendance remained weak, the company subsequently re-closed or reduced operating schedules at some locations. Marcus also extended the redemption period for its 2020 reusable popcorn buckets through 2021. Marcus Corporation remains a U.S.-focused operator combining theatrical exhibition with lodging and resort services. Its business model is exposed to consumer discretionary spending, film-studio release schedules, travel demand, labor and operating costs, and changes in the ways audiences consume entertainment.
History
Marcus Corporation began on November 1, 1935, when Ben Marcus acquired a movie-theater screen in Ripon, Wisconsin. The theater, later identified as Campus Cinema, established the company's foundational business in film exhibition. Marcus subsequently built a regional theater operation while also entering restaurants and lodging, gradually developing the combination of entertainment and hospitality activities that defines the company. The company's earlier restaurant activities included operation of Marc's Big Boy locations and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in the Milwaukee area. Marcus sold the KFC franchises by 1992 and closed its last Marc's restaurant in 1995. In lodging, the company operated Baymont Inn & Suites before selling that business to La Quinta Corporation in 2003. Marcus Cable was associated with the Marcus family but was not directly part of Marcus Corporation; it merged with Charter Communications in 1998. Marcus Theatres expanded through acquisitions and partnerships. In 2000, the theater chain partnered with MovieTickets.com to support advance ticketing, extending the relationship in 2011. The company acquired seven Nebraska locations from Douglas Theatre Company in 2008. In 2013, Rolando B. Rodriguez became president and chief executive officer of Marcus Theatres. Under his leadership, the chain introduced select-Tuesday $5 admission and Theatre Entertainment Network, an alternative-programming initiative. In 2014, it launched Indie Focus to present independent and art films at selected theaters. Fandango became the chain's preferred ticketing partner in 2015. A major expansion occurred in December 2016, when Marcus completed the acquisition of 14 theaters operated by Wehrenberg Theatres across four states. The transaction strengthened the company's position in the central United States. Marcus then expanded its dine-in cinema platform by agreeing in November 2018 to acquire Movie Tavern from Southern Theatres. Completed in February 2019, the acquisition added 22 locations and 208 screens and brought Marcus into additional states. Movie Tavern had originated in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2001 and was designed around the combination of moviegoing and served food and beverage. By September 30, 2023, Marcus Theatres operated 79 theaters and 993 screens in 17 states. Its offering included conventional first-run exhibition, food service, alternative programming, advance ticketing, and dine-in formats. The company also operated Marcus Hotels and Resorts, which owned or managed hotels and resorts in states including California, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin, as well as a Wisconsin vacation club. The pandemic created an abrupt interruption to the theater division. Marcus closed Marcus Cinemas and Movie Tavern locations after 8:30 p.m. showtimes on March 17, 2020. A limited reopening began in late June, followed by a broader reopening in August timed partly to the planned release of Tenet. That film's weak performance, postponed releases, and a renewed rise in cases in Wisconsin caused some theaters to close again or operate only on weekends and Tuesdays. The company also extended the redemption period for its 2020 reusable unlimited-refill popcorn bucket through 2021. Marcus Corporation's modern identity is therefore the result of a long transition from a single-screen Wisconsin theater into a publicly traded leisure company. Its two principal divisions give it exposure to both entertainment attendance and hotel and resort demand, while its acquisitions demonstrate a recurring strategy of expanding regional scale and adding differentiated guest experiences such as dine-in cinema.
- 2023
Theater network reaches 79 locations
[1]As of September 30, Marcus Theatres operated 79 theaters and 993 screens in 17 states.
- 2020
Pandemic theater closures
[1]Marcus suspended theater operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and later reopened locations in stages.
- 2019
Movie Tavern acquisition completed
[1]The transaction closed in February, adding 22 locations and 208 screens.
- 2018
Movie Tavern acquisition announced
[1]Marcus Theatres agreed to acquire Movie Tavern from Southern Theatres.
- 2016
Wehrenberg Theatres acquisition closes
[1]Marcus completed the acquisition of 14 Wehrenberg Theatres locations in four states.
- 2013
Rodriguez becomes Marcus Theatres CEO
[1]Rolando B. Rodriguez was appointed president and chief executive officer of Marcus Theatres.
- 2008
Nebraska theater acquisition
[1]Marcus acquired seven theater locations in Nebraska from Douglas Theatre Company.
- 2003
Baymont Inn & Suites is sold
[1]Marcus sold Baymont Inn & Suites to La Quinta Corporation.
- 2000
Advance-ticketing partnership begins
[1]Marcus Theatres partnered with MovieTickets.com to provide advance ticketing capabilities.
- 1935
Ben Marcus establishes the company
[1]Ben Marcus founded the business on November 1 by purchasing a movie-theater screen in Ripon, Wisconsin.
Products and positioning
A U.S. leisure and hospitality operator combining regional cinema exhibition, dine-in entertainment, hotels, resorts, and guest-focused food and beverage services.
Movie theater chain · 1935
Marcus Theatres
Marcus Theatres is the company's principal cinema exhibition business. It operates and manages first-run movie theaters with screen-based entertainment, food and beverage service, advance ticketing, loyalty-oriented offerings, and selected alternative content. The division also includes differentiated formats such as dine-in theaters and programming initiatives for independent films and other nontraditional theatrical content.
Dine-in cinema · 2001
Movie Tavern
Movie Tavern is a dine-in cinema concept acquired by Marcus Theatres from Southern Theatres. The format combines first-run film exhibition with waiter-served meals, snacks, and beverages delivered during the movie. Its integration expanded Marcus's screen base and added a hospitality-oriented entertainment format to the theater division.
Hotels and resorts
Marcus Hotels and Resorts
Marcus Hotels and Resorts owns or manages hotels and resorts in multiple U.S. states. The division serves lodging, meetings, leisure travel, food and beverage, and destination-resort demand. Its historical portfolio has included full-service hotels, resort properties, and a Wisconsin vacation-club operation.
Movie theater · 1935
Campus Cinema
Campus Cinema in Ripon, Wisconsin, is the theater associated with the company's founding acquisition. It continues to operate as a first-run theater, with programming described as appealing to adults and families.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Indie Focus
Selected Marcus Theatres locations in the United States
Indie Focus was launched to present independent and art films at selected Marcus locations.
Outcome. The program gave selected theaters a recurring platform for independent and specialty cinema.
- 2013Tuesday $5 admission
Selected Marcus Theatres locations in the United States
Marcus introduced a recurring discounted-admission initiative offering $5 tickets for any movie on Tuesdays at participating theaters.
Outcome. The initiative was positioned as a value-oriented way to stimulate attendance on a traditionally less busy weekday.
- 2013Theatre Entertainment Network
Selected Marcus Theatres locations in the United States
Marcus introduced Theatre Entertainment Network as an alternative-programming block alongside conventional movie releases.
Outcome. It broadened the content mix available at participating theaters beyond standard first-run films.
Brand decisions
2020
Temporary theater closures and phased reopeningStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic, public-health restrictions, competitor closures, and the postponement of major film releases disrupted theatrical exhibition.
Action taken
Marcus closed Marcus Cinemas and Movie Tavern locations after evening showtimes on March 17, began limited reopening in late June, and expanded reopening in August. It later re-closed or reduced operating schedules at some locations as attendance and film supply remained weak.
Aftermath
The theater division operated under irregular schedules during 2020, and Marcus extended the redemption period for its 2020 reusable unlimited-refill popcorn bucket through 2021.
2018
Agreement to acquire Movie TavernM&ABackground
Marcus pursued growth in dine-in cinema and sought to add a differentiated food-and-entertainment format.
Action taken
Marcus Theatres agreed to acquire Movie Tavern from Southern Theatres in a transaction involving cash and Marcus stock.
Aftermath
The deal closed in February 2019 and added 22 locations and 208 screens, expanding Marcus into additional U.S. states.
Transaction value. $126 million (Announced in 2018; completed in February 2019)
2016
Acquisition of Wehrenberg Theatres locationsM&ABackground
Marcus sought to expand its regional theater network.
Action taken
The company completed the purchase of 14 Wehrenberg Theatres locations in four states.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased Marcus's geographic reach and theater portfolio.
2003
Sale of Baymont Inn & SuitesM&ABackground
Baymont Inn & Suites was one of Marcus's hotel-related assets.
Action taken
Marcus sold the business to La Quinta Corporation.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Marcus's direct exposure to the Baymont hotel brand while the company continued operating other hotel and resort assets.
Recent events
Reported
Marcus Corporation to present Baum Spirit of Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by Marquette Business[2]
Marquette Business will host the Baum Spirit of Entrepreneurship Summit on Nov. 18, presented by Marcus Corporation.
Reported
Goldman Sachs and Marqeta partner on Marcus checking accounts[3]
Goldman Sachs partnered with Marqeta to build checking accounts for the U.S. bank's Marcus service, which the companies said was set to launch that year.
Reported
Amazon and Goldman Sachs introduce a small-business credit line[4]
Amazon and Goldman Sachs introduced a digital credit line for U.S.-based merchants selling on Amazon; eligible sellers will receive invitations to apply for credit lines of up to $1 million.
Reported
Marcus launches mobile banking app[5]
Goldman Sachs launched a mobile app for customers of its online bank Marcus; the app was released on Monday.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources6 sources
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