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New Abbotsford Cineplex to open within two months

Cineplex Cinemas Abbotsford and VIP in Highstreet has 11 screens, including three VIP rooms.
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Mike Langdon


Abbotsford movie fans don't have to wait much longer to enjoy the VIP experience.

Cineplex Cinemas Abbotsford and VIP will open its doors to the public "well before Christmas," according to Mike Langdon, director of communications for Cineplex.

Langdon was in Abbotsford on Thursday to provide a brief media tour of the new 11-cinema, 1,920-seat facility which he said should open in late October or early November.

The cinema is located in the Highstreet Shopping Centre at 3122 Mt. Lehman Road and features seven regular theatres, one UltraAVX auditorium and three VIP theatres.

"We wanted to bring this type of theatre to Abbotsford; bring the VIP concept to Abbotsford, so we were really looking for a development that made sense," said Langdon.

He said Highstreet offered that opportunity.

The VIP cinemas offer larger, padded chairs that rock and lean back. The seats in the front row also recline to enhance the viewing experience. Tickets are priced between $6 and $7 higher than regular admission and only adults are admitted since it's a licensed auditorium.

Along with the availability of alcoholic beverages, the VIP rooms also have a more advanced menu. Along with the normal popcorn and pop, customers can order chicken wings, calamari, wraps, burgers and more.

You can also get in-seat service before the movie begins.

Also as part of the VIP package, no ads are played before the movie, only coming attractions.

In the UltraAVX auditorium, the largest in the building with 356 seats, viewers can enjoy a wall-to-wall screen and upgraded Dolby digital surround sound. It also has wider reserve seats.

Along with mainstream theatrical releases, Langdon said the new facility will also offer alternative programs including WWE wrestling events, the Met Opera from New York, theatrical events, dance performances and other shows that can be brought in via satellite.

Cineplex also offers a classic film series, older kids' films and other options.

"Sinister Cinema is another program that we've launched in some of our theatres. It's genre horror – horror films you may not have seen on the big screen in years past but have a real cult following."

While he could not confirm how many of these programs could be coming to Abbotsford, Langdon did say he expected with a "theatre of this size, we will be bringing significant alternative programming" to Abbotsford.

The new cinema will employ 175 full- and part-time workers.



Kevin Mills

About the Author: Kevin Mills

I have been a member of the media for the past 34 years and became editor of the Mission Record in February of 2015.
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