Marcus Theatres Purchases and Plans Renovations for Country Club Hills Cinema in Illinois
Purchase is Consistent with Company Strategy to Acquire Theatres and Add Value through Proprietary Amenities and Operating Expertise
Milwaukee, April 12, 2016… Marcus Theatres®, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS), announced today its purchase of Country Club Hills Cinema, located at 4201 W. 167th St., adding to its portfolio of Illinois theatres. The 85,000-square-foot building on a 16.9-acre lot with 16 screens will undergo extensive renovations before reopening to the public later this year.
“With the purchase complete, plans are underway to add several of Marcus Theatres’ most popular amenities to Country Club Hills Cinema before unveiling it to the public as an enhanced entertainment destination,” said Rolando Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Marcus Theatres. “We continue to grow as a company, creating the ultimate moviegoing experience through the addition of amenities and our strong operating expertise. Plus, when this theatre reopens, we’ll bring the community more than 150 new jobs.”
Construction is anticipated to begin in May and will include outfitting all 16 auditoriums with new DreamLounger℠ recliners, which allow the moviegoer to go from a seated upright position to a full recline at the touch of a button. These recliners provide guests with the comforts of home and double the legroom between rows. In addition, one auditorium will feature the UltraScreen DLX® experience and two will become SuperScreen DLX® auditoriums. Both include DreamLounger seating and provide an immersive experience with Dolby® Atmos® multidimensional sound for the ultimate in cinema sound. The SuperScreen
DLX auditoriums will have oversized screens, and the UltraScreen DLX auditorium will offer a massive screen to complete the experience.
Two food and beverage concepts also will be added to the lobby, including a Take Five℠ Lounge and Reel Sizzle®. The Take Five Lounge offers a complete selection of cocktails, locally brewed beers and wines, appetizers and other meal options in a casual, relaxed environment. Inspired by the iconic diners of the 50s, Reel Sizzle serves classic menu items like burgers, chicken tenders, crinkle cut fries with “sizzle” seasoning and signature shakes. As part of this total theatre makeover, Country Club Hills Cinema will receive a newly renovated lobby; changes to the box office and concessions area; updates throughout the corridors, including new carpet and auditorium entryways; and exterior updates.
“Given the extent of the renovations, we decided the best approach was to keep the theatre closed during construction,” said Rodriguez. “Marcus Chicago Heights Cinema is only seven miles away, providing a nearby option for our guests to continue seeing movies during this time. We look forward to opening a new Marcus Country Club Hills Cinema later this year.”
Country Club Hills Cinema becomes the sixth Marcus Theatre in Illinois, giving the company a strong south side presence. It joins other Marcus locations including Addison, Chicago Heights, Elgin and Gurnee Cinemas, which all have undergone significant renovation within the past two years, and Orland Park Cinema, which will receive DreamLounger recliners in the upcoming months.
About Marcus Theatres
Marcus Theatres®, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS), is the fifth largest theatre circuit in the United States and currently owns or operates 668 screens at 53 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio. These totals do not include Country Club Hills Cinema, which is currently closed for renovations. For more information, please visit www.marcustheatres.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@Marcus_Theatres).
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