New Cinemark in McCandless boasts modern luxuries

Tory N. Parrish
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 7:40 p.m. | Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 7:40 p.m.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

The entry way Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

The self-service concession area Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

The premium stadium seating in one of the theatres Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

The full-wall screen in one of the 12 theaters Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

Bryan Jeffries shows off the hard drive that holds the entire Maleficent feature Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

James Knox | Trib Total Media

One of the digital projector Tuesday Sept. 17, 2014 at the New Cinemark Theater opening up in McCandless Crossing. The theater will be Cinemark’s first in the Pittsburgh area to sell alcohol and it will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling screens and digital presentation in every auditorium. The theater will feature a Cinemark XD: Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium and seven of the auditoriums will be RealD 3D capable.

A new Cinemark theater will have all the amenities expected of modern cinemas when it opens on Friday in McCandless.

After a two-year delay, Plano, Texas-based Cinemark Holdings Inc.'s 12-screen Cinemark North Hills and XD theater in the McCandless Crossing development will offer movie fans stadium seating, wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor screens, digital projection in every auditorium and self-serve concession stands.

It also will sell beer, wine and frozen cocktails.

“The expectations from customers is that (those features are) going to be in a theater today,” said Bryan Jeffries, Cinemark spokesman.

The 35-year-old Pittsburgh North 11, which is about 1½ miles from the Cinemark, lacks stadium seats and other pluses. Cinemark has run the former Rave theater since buying Rave Cinemas last year.

The old theater is for sale for $4 million, but Cinemark has no plans to close it, Jeffries said.

Interest in the site has increased since Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. received approval in July to build a super center in the same shopping center, said Kevin Langholz, a principal with Langholz Wilson Ellis Inc., an agent for the property.

The older theater still has an audience, Jeffries said.

“We think there are customers who grew up with the old Rave theater and may always prefer to go there,” Jeffries said. “However, we believe there are a lot of customers who have already been going to other more modern theaters that will enjoy and appreciate having a high-tech theater of their own, so close to home.”

A ticket for an adult to a non-3D evening movie at Pittsburgh North 11 is $7, compared to $8.75 Sunday through Thursday evenings and $9.25 Friday and Saturday evenings at the new Cinemark.

McCandless resident Anton Constantino, 58, watches movies in Pittsburgh North 11 and Cranberry Cinemas on Route 19.

“I'd be anxious to try this new one out … luxuries are always fun to enjoy,” he said.

Selma, N.C.-based AdVenture Development LLC is developing McCandless Crossing on 130 acres off McKnight Road.

The Cinemark is considered an anchor in the $100 million mixed-used development that will include stores, restaurants, banks, hotels, offices and 53 townhouses. It will be the largest commercial development in McCandless when it is finished, said Bruce Betty, McCandless land use administrator.

Businesses there include Lowe's Home Improvement store, an IHOP restaurant, LA Fitness, CVS, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Dick's Sporting Goods and home furnishings store HomeGoods.

Longhorn Steakhouse, Trader Joe's and a Panera Bread with a drive-through window are under construction, said Robert McGurk, project manager at AdVenture. The development should be fully built and occupied by fall 2015, McGurk said.

Tory N. Parrish is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-5662 or tparrish@tribweb.com.

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