SC movie theaters near Charlotte are preparing to reopen soon during COVID pandemic

While North Carolina movie theaters remain dark during the novel coronavirus pandemic until at least next month, the lights go on and action returns this month in South Carolina.

That includes cinemas near Charlotte. Two theaters — RedStone 14 Cinemas in Indian Land and Regal Manchester in Rock Hill will open Aug. 28.

“This has been a tremendously challenging time for all of us,” said Dale Coleman, vice president of operations for Stone Theatres, which owns RedStone. Movie theaters around the country have been closed since March because of the global pandemic.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster began allowing places with large gatherings, like movie theaters, to begin reopening Aug. 3 with 250 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less.

“You have to follow these rules to go see your favorite movie — have some distancing, you have to wear a mask,” McMaster said July 29 when he eased restrictions, according to The State newspaper in Columbia.

However, North Carolina’s event venues including movie theaters, gyms and bars remain closed under an extended reopening plan until at least Sept. 11.

‘We would certainly hope just over the border that the demand of Charlotte customers, and a lot of theater guests who may not have been to RedStone, come enjoy a movie,” Coleman said.

Indian Land

Stone Theatres, based in Charlotte, has six locations in the Carolinas, with two in South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach as well as the one in Indian Land. The opening in spring 2018 of the Lancaster County 14-screen theater with 2,800 seats drew many customers from the Charlotte area.

Coleman said the theater waited to open to coincide with new releases. RedStone 14 will open with feature films “Unhinged” and “New Mutants,” with the highly anticipated movie “Tenet” from director Christopher Nolan released Sept. 3.

Coleman said the theater also shows a “flashback cinema series” of films like “Jaws” and “Dirty Dancing.”

He said the theater is still in the process of developing an opening film schedule.

The theater also has safety protocols in place, including keeping three seats between groups and recommending payments by credit card.

The theater will disinfect auditoriums after each screening, along with frequent surface cleanings and deep nightly cleanings. Everyone is required to a wear a face covering.

Once seated, masks may be removed only while eating and drinking, the company website states. Anyone not wearing a face covering will be basked to leave.

Coleman said every auditorium will be used to help with the creative film scheduling and logistics needed to maintain social distancing.

Rock Hill

Regal theaters, with seven in the Charlotte area, including Gastonia and Rock Hill, said on the company website last month it would begin reopening theaters Aug. 21.

The Rock Hill theater on Cinema Drive will open Aug. 28 with tickets available for purchase beginning Aug. 21, the company website states.

Theater safety features includes contactless payment, sanitizing auditoriums after each movie showing using fogger equipment.

Customers will be required to wear face coverings at all times in the lobby, hallways and restrooms. Masks may be removed in the auditorium only while eating and drinking, according to the website.

Group sizes will be limited and guests are asked to leave two seats between groups.

The theater offers “Flashback Features” showing films like “Black Panther,” the “Rocky” series and “Jurassic Park.” through Sept. 3. Tickets will cost $5 and $3 for children.

Regal, based in Knoxville, Tenn., is a subsidiary of Cineworld Group with 7,211 screens in 549 theaters in 42 states.

Officials with Regal could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Save the stages

Stone Theatres benefited from the federal Paycheck Protection Program loan, receiving $150,000 to 350,000, according to the PPP loan database.

But the financial burden is great, Coleman said. Theaters have been closed for five months and now have new requirements and limitations with reopening amid the pandemic.

Stone Theatres’ North Carolina locations in Indian Trail, Wilmington, Fayetteville and Morrisville will be closed for at least another month.

“We certainly understand and appreciate the governor’s concerns to make sure North Carolinians are safe,” Coleman said, “but we truly feel we can open our theaters as safe, or safer, than restaurants and other retail establishments that have been allowed to open.”

Coleman urged people to join National Association of Theatre Owners’ #SaveYourCinema campaign to urge Congress to help movie theaters until they can fully reopen. The group, which represents over 35,000 movie screens across the country. The group says local theaters employ more than 150,000 people.

The concept is similar to the #SaveOurStages by National Independent Venue Association and promoted by independent music venues in Charlotte like The Evening Muse and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

“As you can imagine, our biggest challenge right now is to get through this,” Coleman said. “We certainly need some additional stimulus help from Congress. All exhibitors are in desperate need of it.”

AMC theaters

One Rock Hill movie theater, however, will not reopen.

AMC Classic Rock Hill 7 is no longer listed as a theater location on the company website, referring customers to two nearby Charlotte theaters.

AMC Theatres spokesman Ryan Noonan said the permanent closure was a business decision. “While that occurred during the shutdown, it is not necessarily due to COVID,” he said.

On Thursday, AMC Theatres said it will begin reopening theaters Aug. 20, selling tickets for that day only at 1920s prices of 15 cents to celebrate a century of movies.

But none of the five AMC theaters in South Carolina, including Columbia and Myrtle Beach, are scheduled to reopen until Aug. 27 or Sept. 3. The closest theaters opening Aug. 20 are in the Atlanta area, according to the company’s website.

This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 6:20 AM with the headline "SC movie theaters near Charlotte are preparing to reopen soon during COVID pandemic."