National Amusements, the Dedham, Mass.-based company that owns the Cross County Multiplex Cinemas in Yonkers, plans to keep that 10-screen theater open when it debuts a new 12-screen multiplex in the Ridge Hill complex now under construction a couple of miles north.
The new theater could upend the dinner-and-a-movie date formula ”“ or at least keep the entire evening under one roof ”“ by offering a bar and restaurant on site.
There is no date for completion of the Ridge Hill theater, which is expected to have 12 screens.
According to Wanda Whitson, National Amusements director of corporate communications, “The current industry average for construction of a new theater is approximately $1 million per screen.” The company did not have any renderings available.
Whitson said the cost to build the Cross County facility in 1993 was not known.
The Cross County Multiplex Cinemas lobby is something of a concession heaven, offering the standard popcorn and Twizzlers, but also fare such as pizza, hot dogs and ice cream. Said Whitson in written response to questions about the Cross County theater: “Although there are no upgrades presently planned for this location, our patrons will continue to enjoy a great movie experience at this theater and enjoy a broad range of concession selections.” Nine movies were on the docket on a recent busy evening.
The Ridge Hill Theater will hold 2,996 special rocker-recliner chairs, according to Whitson.
Whitson also cited other Ridge Hill amenities:
Ӣ a lounge area outfitted with comfortable furniture, newspapers and magazines;
Ӣ a baby grand piano in the lobby;
Ӣ stadium movie seating with 18-inch risers;
”¢ a broad selection of concessions; Â
”¢ Quick Service Restaurant selections that include Famous Famiglia Pizza, Nathan”™s Famous offerings and Ben & Jerry”™s ice cream;
”¢ Studio 3 Restaurant and Bar, a full-service restaurant featuring American fare “in a relaxed, sophisticated setting.”
And, because it”™s still about the movies: “Dolby Digital Surround EX sound, digital 2K projection systems, and Real D 3D projection.”
Efforts recently to tour the Ridge Hill site were unsuccessful. It is the mixed-use project visibly rising on the east side of the Thruway across from Stew Leonard”™s. The developer is Brooklyn-based Forest City Ratner Cos., which posts this year and 2010 as Ridge Hill”™s opening dates on its Web site. The projected square footage is 1.2 million.
“Cross County Multiplex Cinemas is not closing,” Whitson said via e-mail. “The new theater in the Ridge Hill project will be a great addition to the overall market in Yonkers and surrounding areas and we look forward to providing movie-goers with two great theaters that they can select from.”
