14 screen theater to open in October 2009
Missy O'Hara
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Around Town
A 14 screen Regal Cinema is slated to open in October 2009 at River Ridge Mall on Candlers Mountain Road in Lynchburg.
In August 2008 EMJ construction from Chattanooga, Tenn. began demolition, construction and renovation on what used to be Value City to make room for the new theatre. The food court was added in 1996 and was the only addition made to the mall since it opened in 1980.
"We hope it will bring more traffic to the mall and be something exciting for Lynchburgers to do at night since there isn't much to do in Lynchburg," General Manager Louise Dudley said.
The 56,681 square foot theater will include 14 screens, stadium seating and will play newly released movies. The space has 19,900 square feet for vendors, an entrance into the main mall and an external entrance from the parking lot. New benches and landscaping are being added outside the mall.
The closest Regal Cinema is in Charlottesville and Dudley says she is excited to bring one to Lynchburg. Some LC students are also excited about the theater.
"I'm excited about having a new theater. Now the community will have another form of entertainment," junior Patrick McNamara said.
Students are also looking forward to the number of movies that will be played.
"I think it's going to be awesome, they'll be able to show more movies," junior Katie Grawl said.
However, some students feel it is an unnecessary addition.
"I feel the movie theater right up the road is fine and real close so I really don't think of the mall one as my first choice because I'm a college student, I don't have a lot of money to spend for gas for going that far and I could potentially just walk to the close one and the movies are more expensive," sophomore Scott Allen said.
Some students are skeptical about the movies that will be shown.
"I just hope the movies shown won't be limited due to the surrounding area," sophomore Joey Philbrick said.
The four screen theatre that is currently in the mall will be opened up for retail space.
"It will be renovated and given the opportunity for a new big box tenant, like a bookstore," Dudley said.
The four screen theater will remain open until the new multi-plex theater opens in October 2009.
In August 2008 EMJ construction from Chattanooga, Tenn. began demolition, construction and renovation on what used to be Value City to make room for the new theatre. The food court was added in 1996 and was the only addition made to the mall since it opened in 1980.
"We hope it will bring more traffic to the mall and be something exciting for Lynchburgers to do at night since there isn't much to do in Lynchburg," General Manager Louise Dudley said.
The 56,681 square foot theater will include 14 screens, stadium seating and will play newly released movies. The space has 19,900 square feet for vendors, an entrance into the main mall and an external entrance from the parking lot. New benches and landscaping are being added outside the mall.
The closest Regal Cinema is in Charlottesville and Dudley says she is excited to bring one to Lynchburg. Some LC students are also excited about the theater.
"I'm excited about having a new theater. Now the community will have another form of entertainment," junior Patrick McNamara said.
Students are also looking forward to the number of movies that will be played.
"I think it's going to be awesome, they'll be able to show more movies," junior Katie Grawl said.
However, some students feel it is an unnecessary addition.
"I feel the movie theater right up the road is fine and real close so I really don't think of the mall one as my first choice because I'm a college student, I don't have a lot of money to spend for gas for going that far and I could potentially just walk to the close one and the movies are more expensive," sophomore Scott Allen said.
Some students are skeptical about the movies that will be shown.
"I just hope the movies shown won't be limited due to the surrounding area," sophomore Joey Philbrick said.
The four screen theatre that is currently in the mall will be opened up for retail space.
"It will be renovated and given the opportunity for a new big box tenant, like a bookstore," Dudley said.
The four screen theater will remain open until the new multi-plex theater opens in October 2009.
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