Southeast Eastgate Cinemas

Just in case you need to MAPQUEST this, the address is actually 823 NC 24-27 Bypass East,Albemarle, NC 28001. The boxoffice phone is 704-982-9315 and the manager’s phone office is 704-982-8811. All renovations appear complete including a new much more interesting facade with a neon display featuring shooting neon stars. Inside all five screens have been installed with stadium seating and full dolby digital sound and projection(all of this happened when the cinema was under Regal Entertainment Group before Southeast Theatres took over in 2010).

The first thing the new independent owners did was totally rip down the original facade signage and next they cut down the old marquee by the highway. It looked like they were out of business but the Eastgate Cinemas was still bringing in the crowds as Albemarle’s top destination for first-run movies. They soon erected a new marquee sign that was about five times as larger than the old one,but no taller. Next the shopping center owner planted large and fast growing trees all along that end of the shopping center including right in front of the shiny new marquee. Now just one year later you can actually cannot see it all from the highway. Not to mention the Eastgate still had steady competition from the local Badin Road Drive-In Theatre that was just up the road from the Eastgate Shopping Center. Getting back the old marquee sign,the original was first put up by Litchfield Theatres and then later on by United Artists and by Regal Entertainment Group.

VISITORS TIPS: If you’re coming into Albemarle be forewarned here. This area of NC 24-27 and NC 73 is always congested and it is very dangerous. Drive safely. Not to mention you got the traffic coming from not only the Eastgate Shopping Center area but also from the heavy stream of traffic coming out of Quenby Mall. Even the Eastgate Shopping Center parking lot can be dangerous so paid very close attention here. Second if you’re coming from out of town there are many good places to eat here. Just to the northeast corner of the shopping center is the local McDonald’s if you are in a big hurry. There is also the local Hardees and other fast food establishments like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Arby’s just to name a few. There is also a Subway almost immediately right next door to the cinema. On that stretch of the NC 24-27-73 Bypass near the theater there are the usual franchise establishments like Golden Corral,Bojangles' Ryan’s and the Western Steer Steakhouse,and the local Burger King Restaurant. Recommended and more unique places to eat nearby include the Blue Bay Seafood on the opposite side of the Bypass at East Main Street from McDonald’s. For cocktails and a good meal Harmancos is about three blocks westbound at 1407 East Main Street and it has been Albemarle’s top rated Restaurant and a very popualr establishment since the 1940’s. Although it morphed into a combination Cajun and speciality menu a few years back you can still get a famous Harmanburger with all the toppings. Best Mexican food is the hard to find Mazatlan at 1900 Hilco Street off the NC 740 Bypass and the easier to find El Ranchito at 716 NC 24-27 Bypass East. El Ranchito has beer and liquor around while Mazatlan doesn’t. The best Chinese cuisine is the Chinese Kitchen in the Super Wal-Mart shopping center. For dessert go to the 1950’s built GOOD-O/PUTT-O at 1240 East Main Street about five blocks west of the Eastgate Shopping Center. For finer dining drive westbound on Main Street across the square to West Main Street for The Boardroom Bar & Bistro and just a bit further on your right you’ll find J.D. Shuckers where there loaded chicken is highly recommended.

AVOID THESE TWO PLACES ANYTIME YOU COME TO ALBEMARLE: Avoid at all costs the overpriced and horrible customer service they have at the Yadkin Valley Steakhouse where the staff is notorious for making you wait minutes before you are seated. The management is terrible there and so is the food….DON’T EVER EAT THERE!!!

The Pontiac Point Italian Restaurant has the worst Italian food on the planet. Terrible service throughout and somewhere the place is downright nasty. The staff is rude and snobby and the customer service is the worst I’ve ever seen.

You will enjoy your visit to Albemarle more if you avoid these two places.

George Lucas' STAR WARS played here first-run at the Eastgate Cinema 1 & 2 on July 8,1977

If you use the address 823 N. Carolina 24, Albemarle, NC 28001 this theatre site will map properly.