Story posted Thursday, October 29, 2009
One Month Left To Complete Elk Grove Theater Upgrades
Classic Cinemas in Elk Grove Village is preparing for its grand "Big Ticket Tearing" ceremony next month when a major renovation project will be completed.
When work is completed next month the cineplex near Arlington Hts. and Biesterfield roads will go from housing eight to 10 screens.
Mayor Craig Johnson plans to join Classic Cinemas President Willis Johnson on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. tearing a big ticket rather than cutting a ribbon on the newly renovated multiplex.
Seating has also been upgraded at the movie house. The number of seats, 1,665, will not increase though the number of screens will because seats are larger and there will be more space between rows.
By the end of renovations all theaters will feature larger faux leather seats and six of the theaters will feature stadium style seating where each row is several feet higher than the one behind it allowing for better views.
Elk Grove Village trustees granted Classic Cinemas permission to conduct the renovations and additions last January when Willis Johnson served up popcorn to Mayor Johnson and trustees. Since then the theater has been operating only five or six screens.
The theater first opened in 1972 but only showed family friendly movies for the first few years. In 1984 Classic Cinemas bought the theater and brought movies back to family friendly fair from the adult movies that had been shown. The theater was split into two screens several years later and over the years grew to an eight-screen multiplex.
Willis Johnson said the summer season of movies was good and is expecting a positive fall.
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