Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley

dallasmovietheaters on January 22, 2014 at 9:48 am

The David Rockwell architected Loews Keystone opened at midnight March 21, 1997 during the height of the megaplex boom with showings of Selena and Liar Liar. The project was announced within weeks of the sister cinema to the south, Sony’s Loews Cityplace. But the Keystone’s stadium seating would keep the property viable well past the Cityplace’s demolition in 2008. The 16-plex boasted 80,000 square feet with 4,000 seats ranging from 100 to 500 seats. The screen size ranged from 17.6' x 31' to 25.6' by 49'.

Sony was all about synergy in the 1990s and incorporated Sony Dynamic Digital Sound 5.1 systems in each auditorium including 7.1 in the largest. The theater’s concession stand sold expanded items like fries, chicken tenders and buffalo wings and had an ice cream area for a period to expand past traditional popcorn, hot dogs and nachos.

But in 2006, AMC acquired Loews Cineplex and with AMC turning its attention to the nearby and higher-end all stadium-seating NorthPark 15 and AMC Valley View properties, the Keystone and other Loews properties were in jeopardy. While AMC prized some of the Sony/Loews locations in other cities the same could not be said for its Dallas-area portfolio. AMC would close the Loews Cityplace, the Loews Cinemas 20 & 287 in Arlington, and the Loews City View in Fort Worth after the merger but the Keystone was the chain’s first casualty as it was forced to sell the Loews Keystone Park before the merger could be finalized. Regal became the operator of the theater.

If AMC was ambivalent toward the Keystone, Regal seemed to have an operational malaise looking to wring anything it could from the property. The chain guided the Keystone to its unceremonious closure after its brief two year effort. Reduced price rush hour shows represented the most innovative part of the Regal Keystone operation. The theater closed following shows on October 17, 2010 with contents quickly removed. Regal’s lasting contribution to the Keystone could be found in door signage from the property owner detailing the operator’s non-payment on the lease and changed key / forced lockout. The theater was boarded up not long after the less than regal operation.

But the theater was given love from its next owner, the Studio Movie Grill which continued operation in the redecorated and reinvigorated Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley which opened October 12, 2012 with special screenings. Some thought it odd that SMG would open so close to its very successful SMG Royal just four exits to the South adjoining its headquarters. But SMG Spring Valley was opened to blunt the announced openings of the nearby Look Cinema and the even closer Alamo Movie Drafthouse in Addison just one exit to the North on Central Expressway. While the line in the sand had been drawn and booking competition returning to the area, it wasn’t clear which theater would have the upper hand as the 2010s continued.

Chris Utley on August 26, 2017 at 2:05 pm

Went here in early August 2017. Lobby looked nice but the auditoriums could use a lil TLC