Painters Crossing AMC, a Phoenix rising?

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on June 18, 2014

For years people complained about conditions at the AMC movie theater in the Painters Crossing shopping center in Chadds Ford. The reason for those complaints may be a thing of past.

The theatre, closed for weeks because of a major renovation project, is now open and ready for business. It’s no longer a standard movie theatre, but a dine-in theatre. All nine auditoriums are equipped for serving a restaurant meal. Some of the auditoriums also have reclining seats.

The seats are wider and have more leg room. AMC Director of Public Relations Ryan Noonan says people won;t be "bumping elbows" anymore.

It’s a totally new movie-going experience, according to Ryan Noonan, the director of Public Relations for AMC.

“It’s not the same theatre it was. Now it’s an AMC Dine-In Theatre at Painters Crossing. Everything from the carpet on the floors to the paint on the walls, the restrooms, the bar and the auditoriums, everything has been enhanced. Everything’s been upgraded. It’s truly an amazing movie-going experience,” Noonan said during a press tour a day before the re-opening.

Yes, a bar, MacGuffins Bar to be exact. It sits to the rear of the new lobby. Noonan said it would be similar to a mini sports bar with food service and a TV.

People can sit and chat there before or after a movie and parents who drop their kids off to see a film can return early to eat and watch a ballgame while waiting for the movie to end and then take the kids home, Noonan said.

The new box office — with both automated and real-life flesh and blood attendants — is off to the left.

In addition to a bar, the biggest changes are in the auditoriums and in having a kitchen. Instead of going to a dining room, patrons would pay their admission at the box office and then go to their theatre seats where they’ll find a tray, a menu and a call button. Just buzz for service. Theatre admission and food service are paid for separately.

There are two types of auditoriums. One is what’s called “Fork & Screen” with plush rocker seats.

The other type is called a “Cinema Suite.” These are adult only auditoriums with power reclining seats. While those are labeled as adult only — aged 21 and older — that has nothing to do with the type of movie shown, Noonan said. Film features will not be the adult only type, they will be the same type of films AMC has always shown, he said. He explained that some people prefer watching a movie with a more mature audience.

Noonan said that in both types “There’s plenty of leg room and no bumping elbows with a stranger next to you.”

Watching a film in a Cinema Suite will increase the cost of a movie ticket by an extra $2.50, according to Noonan, but there’s no extra cost when using a Fork & Screen auditorium.

Noonan said the renovations and changes go beyond just wanting to put in new carpets, slap fresh paint on the walls and change seats in the auditoriums. “We wanted to truly enhance the whole theatre,” he said.

Food and drink prices are comparable to the popular family restaurants and sports bars, he said. Salads range in price from $10 to $12, appetizers from $7 to $14 and entrées from $12 to $16.

There are also tacos, chicken tenders, fish & chips, sandwiches, burgers and desserts.

But even though they serve restaurant food, Noonan said old favorites are still available.

“We still offer the traditional popcorn, candy and Coca-Cola products that we've always offered.”

According to the menu, popcorn is $8.50, but that includes a free refill.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.