MJR Troy Grand Could be Open in Time for 'Spider-Man 2'

Working quickly with Troy city officials and other entities, ground was broken at the MJR Troy Grand Digital Cinema 16 on Thursday morning.

The digital movie theater at the site of the former K-Mart building on the southeast corner of Maple and Livernois was announced in May and estimated at $16 million to build. The much-celebrated announcement attracted local dignitaries L. Brooks Patterson, Martin Howrylak and Dane Slater, among others.

"It's hard to believe this project actually started this year and look how far we've come in just a few months," Slater said.

MJR CEO Michael Mihalich gave high praise to the city for its work in the building process, which has included a brownfield redevelopment plan to clean the site up. Mihalich said that construction was on pace with its original target date of opening by spring of 2014.

"We're on a very fast, aggressive schedule. We intend to be open ... the new 'Spider-Man' movie opens next May, early May, and we're very confident that we're going to make that date," Mihalich said.