Celebration! Cinema RiverTown

Info Updates:

6/17/2007 - Chuck Sutton

Jack Loeks theaters bought both Grand Rapids area Cinemark. Starting June 27 they will be called Celebration Cinemas. Here''s the story from GR Press Loeks buys two Cinemark theaters Sunday, June 17, 2007 By Jake May The Grand Rapids Press Long-time theater owner John Loeks has gone to the movies a lot lately, though not necessarily to catch a flick. He was on a spy mission -- part of his plan to buy the Cinemark theaters at Woodland Mall and RiverTown Crossings mall. "I''ve been secretly visiting these theaters to scout their employees," Loeks said on Saturday when he announced he was buying both theaters. "And I have found some great ones. We hope to transfer much of their staff. ... We want to give them an opportunity to take employment with us." Effective Friday, Loeks'' Celebration Cinema theaters will take over two Cinemark properties, Woodland Mall''s 14-screen theater and the 20-screen property at RiverTown Crossings. Both Cinemark theaters will close Wednesday and reopen as Celebration Cinema theaters June 27. The two theaters will reopen in time for the first showings of "Live Free or Die Hard," said Ron Van Timmerman, executive vice president, marketing. Most of the shutdown will focus on interviewing and training staff. Those theaters may need more employees than it has now, he said. Closing for a week in June is painful, Van Timmerman said, but the acquisitions need lots of work. "We''ll sacrifice a week in June to be ready for July 4," he said. "July is our busiest month." The purchase will give Loeks'' company 170 screens at a dozen theaters, most of them in West Michigan. "We''ve been talking since last October," Loeks said. "But it got really serious about two months ago ... we''ve been looking to expand, and we''re content to keep our theaters in Grand Rapids. This is our territory, our style, our philosophy. Grand Rapids is our home. It''s where we live." Loeks would not disclose the amount of the purchase agreement at this time. But, he said it will cost an estimated $500,000 to make the transition. Steve VanWagoner, Celebration Cinema''s vice president of marketing, said the estimate covers changes including reworking concessions, projection booth equipment, ticket centers and signs. Loeks recently converted all its local theaters from traditional film to digital projection, and plans to convert the newly acquired locations by the end of the year. "We have to take a Coke establishment and change it to Pepsi," VanWagoner said. "There''s some small modifications that need to be changed before we reopen the theaters." The employees at both Cinemark locations were informed of the purchase Saturday morning and are interviewing for jobs with Celebration Cinema. Loeks said Cinemark plans to pay their its until the purchase is completed. -- Press reporter Julia Bauer contributed to this story.

3/17/2005 - Cactus Bob (Bobby Peacock)

Opened in 1998 with the Rivertown Crossings mall.

10/4/2004 - Toni Feenstra

Pricing has changed. Friday and Saturday after 6pm Adults are 7.75. College pricing is $5.75-good only after 6pm. Seniors and children are $5.25 at all times. Adults after 6pm Sunday through Thursday are $7.50. Adult matinee before 6pm is $5.50. The first show of each movie before 6pm, Monday through Friday is $4.00.

HomeMovie TheatersCelebration! Cinema RiverTown

Celebration! Cinema RiverTown