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Regal: Down to One: Old Theater Will Close When New One Opens

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 09:00 CST

By Tim Rausch, The Lima News, Ohio

Feb. 23--LIMA -- Regal Cinemas will have one theater site in Lima after it opens its new megaplex March 3.

The Regal Cinema 7, 1450 N. Cable Road, will close March 2, said Richard Grover, the company's northern region marketing manager. That theater is 16 years old and will be put up for sale once Regal vacates it, Grover said.

Regal's three-screen theater in the Lima Center on Elida Road, which was 30 years old, closed on Jan. 15. Simon Properties, which owns the Lima Mall and Lima Center, took possession of the older theater and will determine the future of that space, Grover said.

Grover said all staff will move over to the new theater next to the American Mall. It will employ about 60 people, he said, with 45 of them new hires.

The new 12-screen theater will host charity movie screenings throughout the week preceding its grand opening.

The $4.7 million 46,000-square-foot Regal Cinemas American Mall Stadium 12 will feature stadium-style seating to accommodate 2,000 people. Other amenities to be offered in the new complex include high-back rocking recliner seats, retractable cup holders that move out of the way to form love seats, a computerized box office that speeds up ticket transactions and the latest digital surround sound system.

"The cinema is going to enhance our regional draw. A lot of people were going outside the area to go to movies and be entertained. Now we can attract them here and keep them here," said Christy Clouse, director of marketing and research for Allen Economic Development Group.

Clouse said the new theater might spur more development in the American Mall and the area around it. "I think that was the hope. We stay in contact with (Cafaro) and will be meeting with them in May at the International Council of Shopping Centers show."

Cafaro Inc. is the owner of the American Mall and has property that could be used for restaurants, Clouse said.

Clouse said the completion of the Eastown Road project will make it a high-traffic area, adding to the chances of American Mall activity.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Lima News, Ohio

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Source: The Lima News

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