Reisterstown-based R/C Theatres buys movie theater at TownMall of Westminster
Reisterstown-based R/C Theatres buys movie theater at TownMall of Westminster
The movie theater in TownMall of Westminster has been sold, and will soon see improvements to include reclining seats and lower prices, according to the new ownership.
The new owner and operator is R/C Theatres, a Reisterstown-based company that manages theaters in 10 other area locations, including the Hanover 16 and Gettysburg 8 in Pennsylvannia. The company has historically managed theaters in Carroll County as well, including a drive-in in Taneytown and a twin theater in Eldersburg’s Carrolltown Mall, but R/C Theatres President Scott Cohen said the TownMall location has long held his interest.
“I’ve wanted Westminster since it was built,” he said. “When the opportunity came up, we jumped on it.”
Outgoing owner Regal is one of the largest theater operators in the country, with 560 theaters across 43 states, according to the company website. Regal’s last day of operations at TownMall will be Tuesday, May 22.
Some of the first changes people will see at the theater — which will be renamed R/C Theatres Movies 9 — will be lower prices for tickets and concessions, according to Cohen. The electric reclining seats with foot rests may take a little longer, more likely till September.
“They are back-ordered,” he said. Even if he ordered them tomorrow, “it could take, four, six, eight weeks.”
The theater’s nine screens will continue operating smoothly after R/C takes possession Wednesday, Cohen said, and the company will assess what other improvements can be made over time without disrupting service to customers. The $1 Summer Kids Movie Series scheduled for June 19 through Aug. 15, is still on, according to a TownMall media release.
“We are thrilled to welcome R/C Theatres to TownMall,” mall General Manager Robyn Clark is quoted as having said in a news release.
The changes at the theater are just the latest since new ownership, Westminster Mall LLC, an affiliate of Baltimore-based real estate firm Himmelrich Associates,took over the mall property in December. In April the mall celebrated three grand openings, for The Gym, Cob51 art studio and the Westminster Barbershop.
Himmelrich Associates President Sam Himmelrich said his company plans to keep making incremental improvements to the mall over time, and that when it came to the theater, R/C was an impressive suitor.
“Of those folks we spoke to, their reputation for being thoughtful and running good theaters caused them to represent the quality we thought the mall deserved,” Himmelrich said. “We’re very excited about it and we hope we can continue to make the mall better for the folks in Carroll County.”
And as moviegoers prepare for the first day of R/C Theatres Movies 9 on May 23, May 22 is something of a last call, according to Cohen, for although they share an “R” in their names, Regal and R/C are separate companies, and R/C cannot process Regal gift cards.
“All these good people who have gift cards, anything associated with Regal cinemas, have an opportunity to use them without losing them,” he said, so long as they are used by May 22.
