SALINE, MI -- Although nothing has been finalized, Emagine theater owner Paul Glantz confirmed his company is exploring renovating the former Country Market grocery store[1] in Saline to become his company's next movie theater.
"We're optimistic about it and we like it and we'd like to move forward with it," Glantz said.The grocery store has been vacant since 2012, but Glantz said he has hired an architect and will be submitting site plans for the theater soon. If all goes according to plan, the theater would open by Christmas.
Glantz told MLive on Thursday[2] that the company plans to open a theater in Saline and another in Illinois this year.
The location is ideal for the next Emagine theater, Glantz said, because he thinks the area is in need of another quality cinema.
"Every time we build a venue it has to be based on the fact that we think the market is underserved," Glantz said.
The two other major movie theaters in the area are the Quality 16 on Jackson Road in Ann Arbor and the recently renovated Rave Cinema in Pittsfield Township.
Glantz said he plans on using the entire grocery store space and could possibly add on to the building if needed in order to present the best theater possible. Emagine has a history of transforming former grocery stores into theaters as the company's Macomb location is a converted Kroger store.
Emagine has been working with property owner Bloomfield Hills-based A.F. Jonna on plans to renovate the space and so far things have been progressing well. A handful of pieces have to fall in place still for the theater to come to fruition, but Glantz is confident in the plans.
Emagine Entertainment operates nine movie theaters in Michigan including locations in Canton and Novi.
Matt Durr is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Email him at mattdurr@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.[3][4]
References
- ^ former Country Market grocery store (www.annarbor.com)
- ^ told MLive on Thursday (www.mlive.com)
- ^ mattdurr@mlive.com (www.mlive.com)
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