Headline: Regal at Cross Keys Shuts Its Doors — What Washington Township and I‑295 Travelers Should Know
By Ari Williams — 295Times.com | Category: News — Washington Township
If you’ve driven the I‑295/Route 42 corridor and stopped at the Cross Keys shopping area — the strip behind the Walmart where families pick up groceries, students catch a matinee, and folks grab a bite before a movie — you may have noticed a new void. The Regal movie theater at Cross Keys in Washington Township has closed its location. Nearby moviegoers will still find showtimes at a United Artists theater in the area, but the shuttering of the Regal is a reminder of how retail and entertainment are changing along our exits and main roads.
Where the theater was and who it served
The Regal at Cross Keys sits tucked behind the Walmart off Cross Keys Road — an easy pull‑off for residents of Washington Township and commuters using the I‑295/Route 42 interchange. Google Maps shows the theater’s spot inside the Cross Keys retail cluster, a short drive from neighborhoods that feed into Gloucester County’s shopping corridors. For many locals, this was a convenient place for an inexpensive night out, especially for families and teenagers without long drives.
Why this closure matters locally
A theater closure is more than a sign on a storefront. Small‑scale entertainment venues like the Cross Keys Regal help drive foot traffic to nearby restaurants, pizza shops, and retailers. When showtimes run, moviegoers stop for dinner, ice cream, or last‑minute shopping — a ripple of economic activity concentrated around an exit or intersection. Losing one anchor in that ecosystem can mean quieter evenings for adjacent businesses, fewer part‑time jobs for high‑school and college students, and one less convenient entertainment option for residents who don’t want to drive farther down I‑295.
It also affects how people use the I‑295 corridor. For drivers looking for quick, local stops off the highway, this theater was a practical entertainment destination between errands and longer commutes. Now some of that traffic will disperse to other exits, potentially shifting customers to competing plazas or larger multiplexes closer to Cherry Hill, Deptford, or further along I‑295.
Industry trends behind the closure
Regal is one of the nation’s largest chains, and over the past several years the theatrical business has been under pressure from pandemic aftereffects, streaming, and ownership changes. National and regional coverage (see outlets like NJ.com and Patch for broader context) has documented waves of consolidation and selective location shutdowns as chains rebalance portfolios and respond to changing audience patterns. For communities like Washington Township, those national decisions translate into local impacts: fewer screens, fewer programming choices, and sometimes the end of a neighborhood amenity.
What’s still open and where to go
The good news for local moviegoers: a nearby United Artists theater remains operating, so residents still have a close option for new releases. If you prefer a different style of night out, Washington Township and neighboring Gloucester County towns offer smaller local venues, bars, and restaurants that are pivoting to fill the social gap left by fewer movie theaters. Check listings on Google Maps and local review sites like Yelp to compare showtimes, prices, and community feedback before you head out.
Community response and sentiment
Local review platforms and social media often tell the human side of closures. Regulars complain about losing a familiar spot where birthday parties and weekend routines happened; others frame it as part of a larger retail realignment that has been unfolding at shopping centers across the region. If you’ve got memories of the Regal — or tips about how this change is affecting a local small business near Cross Keys — share them. Community input helps municipal officials and developers understand what residents want to keep or replace when a space becomes available.
What might happen next for the space
When theaters close, landlords and town planners typically explore several reuse paths: a new retail tenant, fitness or recreation space, family entertainment centers, or even conversion to offices or community uses. Given the Cross Keys site’s proximity to major roads and a busy Walmart, it’s likely attractive to retailers or service providers that want drive‑in visibility from local streets and nearby I‑295 traffic. Keep an eye on Washington Township planning board notices and Gloucester County permitting logs if you want early signals about redevelopment plans.
Bottom line for neighbors and commuters
The Regal Cross Keys closure is a local story with broader patterns behind it: changing consumer habits, theater industry consolidation, and evolving retail centers along our interstate exits. For people who live or commute along I‑295 in Washington Township, it’s a reminder to pay attention to how these small shifts affect daily life — from where we go for quick entertainment to which businesses benefit (or lose out) when a neighborhood anchor closes.
If you live near Cross Keys or use the I‑295/Route 42 corridor, tell us: where will you go for your next movie night? Have you noticed other changes around your exit that should be covered? Send tips and photos to tips@295times.com or reply in the comments below.
