Century Cinema Makeover a Preview of Upcoming Mall Redevelopment

Not only is the Landmark Century Centre Cinema adding a new bar and expanded dining options, but the entire Century Shopping Centre is also being redeveloped.

That’s according to Mike Fant, Landmark Theatres senior vice president of real estate and development. Fant attended Monday night’s South East Lake View Neighbors association meeting, detailing the new upgrade at the cinema, and slipping that the entire mall is getting a makeover.

“I know the Century owners are planning a major redevelopment, including redoing the entire front of the building,” Fant said.

Some of the only tenants in the mall include the theater, Aveda Institute, CVS Pharmacy, Victoria’s Secret and LA Fitness on the top floors. The 170,000-square-foot shopping center at 2828 N. Clark St. was sold for $18.5 million in 2011 to Bon Aviv Investments, a venture with two Israel-based backers.

“The selection will be a little beyond what you’d normally find in a movie theater restaurant lounge...”

While the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce said the makeover will be in conjunction with their newly formed Clark Street Task Force, specific details surrounding the “major redevelopment” are sparse.

Representatives from Ald. Tom Tunney’s (44th) office and SELVN said Fant’s short mention was the first they heard of a potential redevelopment, and officials with the Century Shopping Centre could not immediately comment on the topic

Details regarding the addition of alcohol and dining options at the Century Cinema, however, became clear at Monday’s meeting. Fant says the movie theatre, which mainly shows independent films, will add a new lounge with fresh food and cocktails to be enjoyed while watching movies.

“We found it necessary in the last couple years to diversify to keep audiences coming in,” Fant said. “Movie box office (sales) have dropped off in the last couple years. You can now watch movies at home on basically the same size screen as at the movies, so as a part of that, we’ve expanded our alcoholic beverage and food options.”

The theatre will build a new lounge adjacent to its main lobby. The new space on the fourth floor will feature 56 seats, have a bar area and serve fresh foods like sandwiches, salads and appetizers like prosciutto.

The buildout will begin in about two weeks and be completed on July 12.

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“The selection will be a little beyond what you’d normally find in a movie theater restaurant lounge,” Fant said. "We’ve hired a professional chef to prepare our staff for the change and to prepare our menu. … We won’t have servers in the auditoriums, but people can bring their food in. We encourage it.”

It’s a move the theater business is planning to implement at many of its other cinemas. Right now, 15 of Landmark Theatre’s 56 locations have these type of food options, with Fant saying the company plans to do the same at its other locations as the opportunity presents itself.