Regal Potomac Yard 16
3575 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Alexandria,
VA
22305
3575 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Alexandria,
VA
22305
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hoyts Cinemas, Regal Entertainment Group
Previous Names: Hoyt's Potomac Yard 16
Nearby Theaters
Opened by Hoyt’s in 1998, the Potomac Yard 16 is located in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center just south of the Pentagon on Route 1 in Alexandria, Virginia. Every house featured stadium seating and digital sound. The two largest screens were 58 by 32 feet. Rooms range from 150 to 400 seats.
The theatre was one of the early major components of the extensive redevelopment of the area that connects the Pentagon/Crystal City portion of Arlington with historic Old Town, Alexandria. It was taken over by Regal in 2004.
Closed since March 16, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the movie theatre’s 18.7 acre site, mostly surface parking, was demolished in early-2021, to build a pump station as part of Virginia Tech’s expansion. All of North Potomac Yard, including the shopping center opposite the movie theatre, will be developed.
There was a chink of hope for the theatre when in September 2020, it was reported that the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review would consider a permit to demolish the theatre, with a city staff report that the theatre “is an example of a typical multi-screen movie theatre built during the late-1990’s throughout the region”. That failed to get passed. The area was a rail yard from 1906 to 1989.
Contributed by
Hoiles, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Opened by Hoyts! That’s why the two huge screens.
I HAVE BEEN TO THIS THEATER ABOUT 6 TIMES,BUT why,or why,are NEWER theaters being listed.Multiplexes are not in keeping with the spirit of this site’s origins,I thought.I wish there was a seperate listing,perhaps,for new theaters.i wish there was a seperate section for grand,old theaters that still show MOVIES,like the Byrd and Commodore.
I saw Star Wars: Episode One The Phantom Menace here way back in ‘99. Like similar Hoyt multiplexes of this site, they had 2 BIG theaters and several smaller ones. The BIGGER auditoriums..some (I’m guessing 400-500 seat capacity with the bigger 50-60 ft screens) had Dolby EX.
When my friend passed away, I seldom, if ever went back to this place. The proliferation of gang-type crowds were a turn off.
I just read today that the place is for sale, along with its Hunt Valley counterpart. This facility supposedly is 75,000 sq. ft.
I don’t when they did the change over but all the screens are digital projection now. They still have the audio placards (DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS) but since digital projection audio is LPCM it’s odd they retained them. I asked if any screen featured 7.1 but management said no, which is odd, since Dolby EX can easily been converted to playback 7.1
what’s the deal with this theater – is it making money or not? Seeing and knowing of the proposed plans of raising the adjacent strip mall/parking lot as well as the theater itself – the future plans don’t make any mention if the theater will be implemented in the new design – has anyone heard, read or know what Alexandria has in the cards for the new ‘North Potomac Yards’ area – in terms if Regal is coming back or not?
I’m reading they raised the complex today to build a new VA Tech facility. Place has been shut down since the pandemic 3/20. Oh well.
The last movie I saw here was Bridge to Terabitha in 2007, which I’m 99% sure I posted here and is gone (again). It was the only place in the DC/Metro area that was playing it in Digital projection..or maybe it was one of the last DP bookings before going.
As I reflect back on my ‘99 experience with Phantom Menace, I attended with my late friend, who was in a wheel chair. Can’t precisely recall if we took the elevator to the EX house but I know we sat high up, as it was his preference. As I sat a little to the back of him, and this was into my X number of times seeing it, I can still see him move his upper body in tune to the pod racing vehicles as they zoomed to the left.. to the right due to the powerful sound delivery and projection. This is what you call the living the movie experience.
While I hope the pandemic’s hold on moviegoing lessens, I don’t think it will ever go away. You just can’t deliver that kind of experience with movies at home, without the audience oohing, ahhing, clapping and reacting to whats up on that screen.
The demolition is completed.