Market Street Cinema fans take notice: the theater will soon be closing and moving its operations to Riverdale 10 on Cantrell Road.
The opening at Riverdale, at 2600 Cantrell Road, is dependent upon the installation of a few upgrades, but Market Street Cinema owner Matt Smith says he hopes to have a few screens open June 6 and all open June 13. The Market Street Cinema will remain open until Riverdale 10 opens.
When Riverdale closed in December, it used 35mm film and analog sound, but Smith says when it reopens this summer it will feature Barco digital projectors and Dolby digital surround sound.
With Smith at the helm, Riverdale will feature “first-run Hollywood films,” in addition to the independent, foreign, art and documentary films that fans became accustomed to at Market Street. Smith said the number of each will vary from week to week.
Another staple of the Market Street Cinema, the Classic Movie Series with Dave Elswick, will continue at Riverdale.
In addition to the upgrades to the cinema’s sound and picture, customers can expect new concession equipment. In the beginning, patrons can expect the normal movie concession stand options, but Smith said the location will apply for an alcohol license, which it has at Market Street.
If the permit is granted — which Smith said will not be applied for until after Riverdale is “up-and-running” — then the cinema has plans for an extended food menu, including items like grilled chicken and fish, and cakes, and drink menu.
At the Riverdale location, Smith is also adding two stages and plans to host stand-up comedy and live music once a month. Smith said he hopes the cinema can have one special event each week.
So after building a name at Market Street Cinema, why move to Riverdale? Smith says its for more options and space that Riverdale has, which is 10 screens and 35,000-SF to be exact. That’s compared to his current 5-screen operation at Market Street that Smith says is less than half the space of Riverdale.
“I can reach the vision I had when I originally opened Market Street Cinema,” Smith said. “We need more screens and movie options to do that.”
After things are operating at Riverdale, Smith says he’ll talk more with the folks at Market Place Shopping Center about refurbishing the cinema as a “bargain discount theater.”