By John Schaffner
editor@reporternewspapers.net
The Buckhead area may be in store for two new upscale movie theaters — one at the Streets of Buckhead and the other at The Sembler Co,’s Town Brookhaven development.
Ben Carter Properties LLC has filed plans for a 280-seat, seven-screen movie theater as part of the redefined proposed redevelopment of the former Three Dollar Café site at the southwest corner of Peachtree and Pharr roads. The theater would be on the lower level of a new site plan.
The Peachtree and Pharr roads site is where Carter Properties had planned to develop a hotel with Barry Hotel Partners. However, the hotel division of Barry Real Estate Cos. Inc. pulled out of the deal in January. Carter reportedly continues to plan a hotel for the site.
The Sembler Co. also plans to add a seven-screen theater in Town Brookhaven.
The proposed theaters would be new generation, upscale theaters with leather seats, food and adult beverages and smaller theater areas for a feeling of a “private screening.”
The theater planned for Sembler’s Town Brookhaven will be a 700-seat Cinebistro product. Cinebistro is a product of Cobb Theatres LLP of Birmingham, Ala., and offers upscale full-menu dining in an environment designed for adults age 21 and older. Cinebistro will be the company’s first venture into the Atlanta market.
Movie-goers will be able to order from a full menu in the dining room or bar area or from a smaller menu inside the theater. However, food will not be served during the movie.
At present, Buckhead has just two movie theaters, one at Phipps Plaza and the other at Tower Place. Lenox Square had a six-screen theater but it closed in June 2003.
Statistics show that adult movie-goers are coming back to the movie theaters. But surveys indicate they want more than just a movie.