Regal cinema plans expansion

Like many Charlottesville residents, Josh Handon occasionally drives an hour to Richmond to watch summer blockbusters at Short Pump’s movie theater that boasts big screens and stadium seating.

Now moviegoers like Handon — who was waiting in line to buy tickets for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” on Friday — may soon have a reason to stay in Charlottesville.

Regal Entertainment Group announced Friday that it is has extensive renovation and expansion plans for its four-screen theater at Seminole Square, tucked behind Kmart.

The company said it intends to add five new screens, digital projection, stadium seating in every auditorium, new high-back recliner seats, a new lobby, a new entrance, new restrooms and more.

“I think that sounds awesome,” Handon said.

Regal, which also operates the six-screen theater on the Downtown Mall, did not return several calls for comment Friday.

It is not clear when the renovations will get under way. It was also not announced whether the theater would remain open during construction.

Once completed, the new theater will be called Regal Seminole Trail Stadium 9.

The expansion will add several amenities, including digital surround sound, a new concession stand designed for faster service, a guest service desk in the lobby, kiosks for automated ticket purchasing and “Real D 3D” projection systems for better 3D movie experiences.

Regal’s announcement arrives at a time of economic uncertainty. Yet a company spokesman said in a news release that the time is ripe for Regal to invest in its aging theater along U.S. 29.

“Regal is confident that now is the right time for an expansion along the heavily traveled Seminole Trail retail corridor,” said Dick Westerling, senior vice president of marketing and advertising for Regal. “A new Regal Cinemas will offer our guests more movies, a variety of showtimes and all of the latest theatre amenities.”

Regal’s expansion plans for the Seminole Square theater will increase its size from 26,389 square feet to roughly 43,000.

The theater was first built in 1983 and has an assessed value of $4.05 million, according to Charlottesville property records.

A spokesman for Carmike Cinemas said he has not heard of any plans to renovate his company’s Carmike Cinema 6, off U.S. 29 in Albemarle County.

“Right now, I don’t know of any plans,” said Dale Hurst of Carmike Cinemas.

With the opening of the Regal Seminole Trail Stadium 9, the Charlottesville area — which has seen the closings in recent years of the Greenbrier, the Terrace and the Jefferson movie theaters — will have a total 23 screens at the two Regal theaters, the Carmike, the University of Virginia’s Newcomb Hall theater and Vinegar Hill.