Editor’s Note: “Mountain Movie Palaces” is an 828newsNOW miniseries spotlighting the independent movie theaters of Western North Carolina. From historic, single-screen arthouse theaters to unique, independently-operated multiplexes, we seek to celebrate the community of cinema through these feature stories.

FLAT ROCK, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Flat Rock Bistro Cinema is the next subject of “Mountain Movie Palaces,” our new miniseries spotlighting the independent movie theaters of small Western North Carolina communities. Read all about the theater below.

Theater specs

• Location: Flat Rock Square, 2700-D Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock, N.C.
• Hours: FRC has a regular 6:30 p.m. evening show on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with a shifting matinee showtime and a regular 1 p.m. matinee on Sunday with a shifting evening showtime
• Number of screens: One
• Number of seats: 72
• Number of staff: Five
• Type of theater: First-run/Event

Feeding a love for cinema

Flat Rock Bistro Cinema opened its doors in Flat Rock Square 20 years ago this summer. Across the intervening two decades, the theater, known in loving shorthand as FRC, has cemented itself as a staple business of the small town. Part of that success is its two-for-one business model: FRC is a dual restaurant and theater, offering in-show grub beyond the usual popcorn and soda concessions.

FRC owner Bryan Byrd is proud that FRC offers its customers “the ability to dine while you’re watching the movie.”

FRC is a single screen theater, but sports two distinct types of seating. The first variety is the bistro table. In this arrangement, diners sit in brown swivel chairs with cocktail-style tables for their food. The second are traditional theater seats, but with attachable trays available. With 36 seats of each type, 72 people make a full-house for an FRC show, and Byrd is prepared to feed them all.

In addition to a considerable variety of candy, soda, beer, seltzer, cider and wine, the FRC menu includes items like a cheeseburger, veggie burger, all-beef hotdog, chicken salad and a barbecue sandwich.

“We just recently this year started making that barbecue in-house, and so that’s kind of now our signature item, besides the popcorn,” Byrd said. “House-made barbecue with house-made slaw.”

The popcorn, meanwhile, is its own beast entirely. Since taking over the business from the Moltons, the founders of FRC, three years ago, Byrd has been steadily working to make improvements to his business model. 

“It’s about investing in the patron experience,” Byrd said. “Everything we do and everything we are seeking to improve or change is so that no matter why you come in this building, it improves your experience.”

Read our Mountain Movie Palaces feature on Tryon Theatre here.

Those changes have included a complete overhaul of the theater sound system, an update of captioning equipment for hearing impaired guests and, perhaps biggest of all, taking early steps to replace the theater’s beloved popcorn machine.

“Our popcorn machine is turning 15. The workhorse of the operation,” Byrd said. “We obsess over our popcorn. 
We say that we have Henderson County’s best popcorn, and that workhorse needs replacement. 
And so, we’ve invited folks to be a part of that by pre-selling a year and a half of popcorn.”

Purchasing a $250 membership in the FRC Popcorn Booster Club grants the buyer various popcorn-related perks. All subscribers have to do is flash their silver membership card.

“That is like the silver ticket. You show that anytime we’re open and we give you as much popcorn as you want. Benefits to go,” Byrd said. “You also get a personalized plaque when we break in the popcorn machine and you’re a VIP at the celebration we’re going to have in June. It’s a year of prepaid popcorn.”

As far as the movies guests can enjoy with their popcorn and entrees, FRC shows one film at a time, typically for a two-week engagement. The independent theater presents films of all ilks, whether big blockbuster or small indie. However, Byrd tries to choose movies that will appeal to the core audience of FRC, most of whom are retirees and Flat Rock locals. Based on trial and error, winning qualifications for FRC selection include:

• Anything with Helen Mirren in it
• Anything based on a good book
• Nothing horror
• Nothing foreign language
• Films based on a true story

“Good storytelling. I guess that’s the bottom of the line when booking,” Byrd said. “Good storytelling.”

For a full list of the stories coming to Flat Rock Bistro Cinema soon, as well as live music and comedy acts, visit www.flatrockcinema.com.