Soledad’s only movie theater set to open within weeks
Seventeen years after city leaders promised Soledad residents a movie theatre, they’re close to getting one.
Premiere Cinemas could open as soon as Halloween weekend, if not the following weekend.
“It's cool that we're finally getting a theatre my stepdad's been waiting for it since like my birth,” said 12-year-old Rodrigo Acosta.
“Happy, excited I've been waiting for a while,” added Edson Arroyo.
When plans for the theatre were approved in 2004, a recession soon followed that put construction on hold. Premiere cinemas out of Hollister picked up the ball five years ago and is now putting the finishing touches on its eight-screen state of the art theatre.
For moviegoers that means no more traveling to Salinas or King City to watch a movie.
“We’re hoping as part of this movie theatre that it is an anchor for our new shopping center which creates more businesses which creates more opportunities to keep money local and keep that money that's going to other cities here and increase the local tax base,” said Soledad city manager Brent Slama.
City leaders also approved more than 130-thousand square feet of retail and restaurant space to go with the theatre. The city hoping they can attract a Chile's or Applebee's style restaurant.
“My favorite food is Panda Express, Chinese food, so I would like to see that,” said Arroyo.
A big box store is not out of the question either. All that could add up to more jobs, tax dollars, and more city services.
“Expanding business opportunities only expands those tax revenues so as we do that we'll continue to offer more programs here,” said Slama.
Theatre managers said 22 employees have already been hired to work in the new theatre.