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Blacksburg’s First & Main Shopping Center will host the region’s first IMAX theater.
In a press conference Wednesday morning at Bull & Bones, Dave Street of Blacksburg ADF Partners, LLC announced that they entered a deal with Frank Entertainment to develop a 12-screen theatre in the shopping center on South Main Street.
“I'm pleased to announce that yesterday we concluded our negotiations with the Frank Entertainment company out of Philadelphia,” Street said, the manager of Blacksburg ADF Partners. “Later this spring, we will break ground on our new cinema complex, the CineBowl & Grill.”
The project will place an IMAX theatre in Blacksburg, Virginia’s thirteenth and the first one west of the Richmond area.
“It will have the first IMAX theatre in this neck of the woods,” Street said. “We think it's going to be something very special for First & Main.”
The 60,000 square foot theatre will include the Red Brick Grille, a restaurant serving Americana cuisine, as well as an arcade and bowling lanes.
“This is a commitment that we have in Blacksburg now to make sure that First & Main is a success,” said Blacksburg mayor Ron Rordam. “We've said all along that we want to see this center develop to its fullest potential as a … mixed-use development that is a shining star for all of us and we've got to have an anchor for that first.”
A version of this article appeared in the Jan 24 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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I am sorry but there is an IMAX in Charlottesville that opened up this past NOV/DEC time frame. That makes this IMAX the second not the first in the area WEST of Richmond.
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I am sorry but this will be the SECOND not the FIRST IMax west of Richmond as one opened in the NOV/DEC time frame in Charlottesville.
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Believe it when it is there and won't help all those already wiped out of business there already. Many destroyed small businesses in Blacksburg.
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Why is Blacksburg allowing this? Yeah it will create more traffic to First and Main but we already have all of these amenities in the burg not to mention the huge theater in Cburg. No college student is going to want to throw down 18 bucks for an Imax and if you want to bowl go hang out in squires.
Go to the Lyric and watch movies that are actually worth your time instead.
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Well Willma... College students aren't the only people who live in Blacksburg. As a non-student, I'm not really into bowling in Squires, and I don't always feel like driving out to Cburg. I'll definitely still go to the Lyric, but I'm certain the IMAX will have some neat movies too.
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I'm amused by the arcade though. How very 1980s. Do people still go to arcades?
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I think this is great news... looking at the other theaters and "CineBowl" locations that are operated by Frank Theaters they are all very nice and tickets are more reasonably priced than Regal (about $7 for a regular movie versus $11 at Regal). I would love to be able to spend my money in town, I just need the venues to do it!
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It won't be a true IMAX experience. It's marketing. It's still a small screen just with extra speakers...It is nothing to get excited about. When they actually build a 5 story screen to project 72mm film then you can call it IMAX...till then...its marketing to make money. Save your cash see the regular version...you wont be disappointed and you will have saved some money for popcorn.
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However though the IMAX may not be something worth having to some...this company does provide motion seats and some other "enhanced" features at some of their theaters. I would think that they would want to put in the newest technology in their newest theater. If so, for those who wouldn't get motion sick, it may be fun experience to have a "Disney type" experience during the movie.
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Say goodbye to more local businesses downtown. This almost feels like a sprawl shift in town. Just what everyone loves!
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Give me a break, "Boooooooo." The Lyric is great for meeting up with friends, but doesn't come close a decent high-tech movie experience which I'd like for some action movies.
And I'm sure the businesses at First and Main are THRILLED to have the theater to draw people to the shopping center. No matter what you think, there isn't room downtown for every business in Blacksburg. The folks who run those businesses deserve support as much as those downtown. Do you remember what a pit that part of town was before First and Main was developed?
I'm SO looking forward to spending my entertainment money in Blacksburg instead of Christiansburg!
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