AURORA, Ohio — The faded movie posters will soon be gone outside the former Cinemark 10 in Aurora as Atlas Cinemas has finalized plans to reopen the movie theater.
Atlas Cinemas currently has locations in Shaker Square, Euclid, Mentor and Mayfield Heights.
Gabriel Saluan, who co-owns the local chain with his sister Mary Ann Karam, told News 5 he hopes to open the 10-screen theater in the spring, with plans to show first-run movies along with specialty theatrical events.
One year ago, AMC Solon Classic 16 and Chagrin Cinemas both closed. In the case of Chagrin Cinemas, the general manager told News 5 the property that the theater sits on was sold, despite solid attendance.
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"We noticed the area closures of the movie theaters in the surrounding area and we thought that [Barrington Square in Aurora] is an outstanding premium location and I think the area since the closures is underserved," Saluan said. "The residents deserve a premium first-run theater."
"Since that theater closed during the pandemic in 2020, I have gotten questions constantly from residents about when a new theater is going to come in there, so I am so excited to tell them we’re getting a theater now and that Atlas Cinemas has made the effort and has the interest," Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said.
Womer Benjamin told News 5 the appetite for a first-run movie theater in Aurora is there.
"I think it will be a great asset to have that theater revitalized," she explained. "And to see the parking lot filled with cars, and that was the legacy before. The place was packed during the day, on the weekends in the evenings. The businesses surrounding it all benefited from it."
Saluan also said the theater will be available for private rentals and have alcohol available for purchase.
"That location has never had [alcohol,]" he said. "Other area theaters do not have it, so we're gonna add that to it along with some full spectrum of food and concession items."
Saluan told News 5 he had been eyeing the property for quite some time, applauding it for its success pre-pandemic and its wall-to-wall screens.
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"Every theater has pretty massive screens which along with total surround digital surround sound will give our customers that total audio and visual presentation," he said. "It's gonna look like a brand new theater."
It marks a shift in the local movie theater industry, which lost almost a dozen movie theaters in Northeast Ohio since the start of the pandemic.
View this interactive map full-screen here.
"2023 was very good," Saluan said. "I think in time, hopefully, we'll get back to pre-COVID numbers."
Saluan estimated he saw a 30% improvement in business this past year, putting his chain of theaters only about 20% off its pre-pandemic numbers.
Clay LePard is a special projects reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow him on Twitter @ClayLePard or on Facebook Clay LePard News 5.
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