Organized opposition Mayfair Mall representatives and tenants claim Marcus tried to orchestrate opposition against the theater development as Wauwatosa officials reviewed the project. At one hearing, a resident handed out unflattering pictures of an AMC theater in Dallas and asked if this is what city officials wanted in Wauwatosa. The one-screen theater was sold recently to two Mequon residents. Olson adamantly denies Marcus tried to block or even oppose the AMC project. We welcome AMC to the market and look forward to a healthy competition with them.
Competition stimulates innovations in technology and customer service.
The reason Mayfair Mall invited AMC into the Milwaukee market and dealt Marcus out of initial considerations was that the mall's owners were also looking at developing a similar project at a Virginia shopping center it owns, said Smith. The Mayfair proposal had two firm requirements. The theater must have only one entrance on the second level, and it must include stadium seating. The number of screens was negotiable. The list was quickly narrowed to AMC, Hoyt's and Cineplex Odeon.