Dine-in movie theater expands to Charlotte, offering wings, burgers and a full bar
A new dine-in movie theater will open this spring in the University City area of Charlotte, taking over a site that used to be run by Studio Movie Grill.
Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas will open with 10 screens, heated recliner chairs with swivel tables, serving food and offering a full bar in the former Studio Movie Grill location at 5336 Docia Crossing Road, Cinergy Entertainment Group said Thursday on its website. The movie theater is expected to open in April.
It will be the Dallas, Texas, dine-in movie theater chain’s eighth location and first in North Carolina, according to Cinergy.
“With so many businesses being closed due to Covid, it is special to be able to restore a wonderful entertainment venue for friends and families to come back together,” Traci Hoey, Cinergy vice president of marketing, said in a statement on the company’s website.
Hiring has begun for the Charlotte location.
At other sites, its menus includes chicken wings, egg rolls, salads, nachos and pizza.
Cinergy offers $5 senior matinees and other senior discounts, happy hour and discount Tuesdays, along with other special events, according to the website.
The 13-year-old company is privately held by owners Jeff and Jamie Benson. Cinergy has 75 screens with seven locations in Texas and Oklahoma.
Charlotte movie theaters closed during COVID
Studio Movie Grill opened its Prosperity Village shopping center location in the former Bi-Lo grocery store spot just three months before COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns began in March 2020.
Studio Movie Grill, also based in Texas, filed for bankruptcy during the pandemic; last July, it told the Observer it would not reopen in Charlotte. The company’s first Charlotte location at Epicentre in uptown closed in early March 2020 citing “operational challenges” after seven years there.
Two other Charlotte-area movie theaters permanently also closed during the pandemic.
Regal, based in Knoxville, Tenn., permanently closed The Manor Twin, Charlotte’s last art house, in the Myers Park neighborhood. And, AMC Theatres also closed its Rock Hill location.
Another movie theater opening in Charlotte
Another cinema house will open this year in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood.
Charlotte Film Society expects to open The Independent Picture House this spring, president Brad Ritter said Friday.
The film society planned to open its three-screen cinema late last year but was delayed.
In July 2020, the Charlotte Film Society signed a lease to renovate nearly 5,500 square feet of a 32,000-square-foot industrial building at 4237 Raleigh St.
The group is continuing to raise money for the project. That includes its “Take A Seat” campaign to help cover the cost and installation of the 199 rocker-style seats in the two auditoriums and recliners for the smaller theater, according to the 40-year-old nonprofit.
This story was originally published January 21, 2022 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Dine-in movie theater expands to Charlotte, offering wings, burgers and a full bar."