The former Great Escapes movie theater at 357 Tanger Blvd., is set to reopen as Showplace Cinemas on Nov. 15.
Citizens of Seymour will soon once again be able to sit back, relax and munch on some fresh popcorn while enjoying a movie on the silver screen all in the comfort of their own town.
Showplace Entertainment is set to open a theater in the former location of Great Escape and Regal Cinemas at the Shops at Seymour, located at 357 Tanger Blvd. on the city’s far east side.
Ever since Regal Seymour Stadium 8 closed its doors in December 2022 — attributed to the bankruptcy of Regal’s parent company, Cineworld — Jackson County residents have gone without a local movie theater, the nearest theaters being AMC and Yes Cinema in Columbus.
Mick Stieler, CEO of Showplace Entertainment, said a tentative opening date has been set for Nov. 15.
“We’d like to open as soon as possible because there are some big movies coming out in November like ‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator II’ and then you also have ‘Moana 2,’” Stieler said.
Stieler said Showplace Entertainment is a family-run business that has been in operation since 1973, with cinema locations currently in Connersville, Evansville, Jasper, Newburgh and Princeton, as well as Henderson, Kentucky and Harrisburg, Illinois.
While renovations of the theater in Seymour will not take place until next year so it can benefit from holiday movie season, Stieler said he plans to “gut” the place and make it feel brand new.
“We’re going to replace all the seats with recliners and replace the auditorium curtains,” Stieler said.
The replacement of regular theater seats with recliners will reduce theatre capacity; however, Stieler said Showplace has done so in other locations and business has been just fine.
“People love the recliners,” Stieler said.
Stieler also said he plans to open an entertainment center next door with an arcade and bowling alley.
Showplace Cinema’s ticket prices in Seymour will be lower than what residents had been used to in the years before Regal Cinemas closed.
“We will not be charging the same prices that Regal was,” he said. “Our tickets will be under $10.”
The cinema has already received around 75 hiring applications, which Steiner said astounded him.
If you would like to apply, email your resumé to [email protected].
“We hope by providing a quality moviegoing experience that we earn the community’s business,” Stieler said.