Sandwich, IL - Sandwich theater under new management

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on September 21, 2016 at 8:28 am

From The Times: The Wow 7 Cinema in Sandwich is under new ownership and plans to reopen as Cinema 7 on Friday.

Classic Cinemas, from Downers Grove, purchased the location and is currently renovating the building.

Mark Mazrimas, marketing manager for Classic Cinemas, expected the renovations to continue at least until the end of the year.

“Right now it’s all hands on deck for the basics to get the theater cleaned up the best we can for Friday,” Mazrimas said. “You may not be wowed until January, but I promise you, knowing the family, they will get it to where it’s something special.”

Future renovations include new carpeting, new signage, self-serve drinks and possibly recliner seating, according to Mazrimas.

Classic Cinemas is a family-owned business, and the Sandwich theater will be its 14th location.

Mazrimas said much of the work currently being done to the building is repairing neglected portions of the theater, including the bathrooms, mirrors and auditorium lights.

More work is neccessary on the building according to Mazrimas, but for now the company is focused on doing what they can to get the theater operational for Friday.

“It’s unfortunate that there’s more to do than we can get done in two weeks,” Mazrimas said. “We’re getting the bare neccessities now, as much as we can.”

Mazrimas said the theater chain had its eye on the location for a while as Classic Cinemas Owner Willis Johnson and his wife Shirley owned property on Lake Holiday and would often attend screenings at Wow 7 Cinema.

Mazrimas said inability to keep up with general maintenance and health issues are a few reasons leading Wow 7 Cinema owner Ralph Webb to sell the theater.

Classic Cinemas will be offering a free small popcorn with every ticket purchase for the first two weeks.

“I hope people come in with a little bit of patience,” Mazrimas said. “If they keep coming back, they will see the growth.”

The theater currently has digital projection, digital sound and stadium seating.

Story link: http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/sandwich-theater-under-new-management/article_770c5201-c487-57e7-af87-e88d6ffac92a.html

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