Theater will take place of former Regal Cinemas location
Last January, the Regal Cinemas location inside Great Northern Mall, 4954 Great Northern Blvd. in North Olmsted, closed permanently.
Almost exactly a year later, the mall announced plans for a new theater company to move in and renovate the space.
On Jan. 23, Great Northern Mall and the city of North Olmsted formally welcomed Michigan-based Phoenix Theatres to the mall.
The new North Olmsted location marks Phoenix’s second venture into Ohio, and its eighth theater across the United States.
Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones explained that bringing the company into Great Northern Mall was a joint effort between the city and the mall.
“It was definitely a courting process,” Jones said. “(Phoenix is) taking a movie theatre that had been shut down and kind of reimagining what the inside is going to be.”
Jones stressed that the mall is going to have to consistently evolve to stay alive in the modern era.
The city aims to help make Great Northern more than just a mall, she said, adding that the location will serve as a social hotspot for years to come.
“The mall itself, it’s like a (landmark), so people know when they think of Great Northern, that’s North Olmsted,” Jones said. “We’ve known for years that the mall is going to have to evolve and change, so we’ve already started putting pieces in place.
“(Phoenix) came in and they said they were ready to make this investment. It’s huge.”
The mall’s “reimagining” process likely will take place throughout the first quarter of 2024, according to Lisa Pocci, public relations strategist for Align Content Studios.
The theatre is set to open later this spring.
It will include a selection of beer, wine, and other adult beverages, as well as heated recliner seats and state-of-the-art Dolby ATMOS spatial audio, according to Jordan Hohman, vice president of project development for Phoenix Theatres.
“We were one of the first in the United States to offer 100 percent-reclining seating in every auditorium,” Hohman said. “Our goal is to offer the highest-quality first-run movie-going experience by offering state-of-the-art digital projection and Dolby ATMOS audio along with comfortable luxury amenities.”
Phoenix Theatres president Cory Jacobson said the group felt the North Olmsted community was right for their next business move.
“Phoenix was originally formed with the idea of refurbishing closed theatres in viable retail areas and returning well-operated neighborhood theatres to their respective communities,” Jacobson said. “We are very pleased with the vibrancy of the mall and the exceptional mix of retail.
“After exploring the city, we felt very much at home in the culture of the community.”
Phoenix Theatres also added that the new location is hiring, and will add about 50 staff members for its opening.
Construction updates on the Phoenix Theatres location at Great Northern Mall will be available at phoenixmovies.net, Jacobson said.