VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA:  There's nothing like a trip to the movies.  While supermarkets offer a plethora of microwave popcorn, there's nothing quite like the aroma of movie popcorn.  Videos and DVDs encourage you to watch from home, but it's just a short trip to comfortable seats, low lights and larger than life images of your favorite movie stars.

While opening night of your favorite film is exciting, it's equally thrilling when a brand new movie theatre opens for business.  Recently, R/C Theatres, represented nationally by Divaris Real Estate's CEO, Gerald Divaris, opened an additional 24-screens in the Southeast, with another 39 screens due to open later this year and in 2002, causing opening night excitement everywhere.

Headquartered in Reistertown, Maryland, R/C Theatres is a major regional theater circuit with a long history of successful operations.  Its increasing presence in the local theatre market has quickly made R/C the cinema of choice for moviegoers.  The company is on its way to completing its mission  of becoming a major U.S. cinema operator.   R/C plans to focus its development efforts in the East and Midwest, building state-of-the-art theatres, with a minimum of 16 screens at each location.  Currently, R/C Theatres operates 21 theatres with a total of 124 screens throughout the nation.

ParkSide Mall, Pinellas Park, Florida

April 2001 marked the premier of ParkSide 16, 

ParkSide Mall's R/C Theatre complex is a state-of-the-art facilty with 16 screens and stadium seating.

the newest R/C Theatre complex.  The 75,000-square-foot movie complex is located in the newly renovated ParkSide Mall, an 850,000-square-foot regional mall in Tampa Bay, Florida. 

Susan Robertson, marketing director of ParkSide, spearheaded the grand opening.  "The purpose of the formal grand opening was to introduce the state-of-the-art facility to the community, active members of the area's Chambers of Commerce, the Committees of 100, and the media," says Robertson.

Opening night excitement was catching.  The theme of the gala affair was  "ParkSide Goes Hollywood."  Prior to the event, filmstrip invitations were sent in black boxes with a metallic label and entry tickets.  VIPs were escorted to the event in stretch limousines, and upon exiting their cars, stepped onto a red carpet and were greeted by cheering fans and paparazzi.  Searchlights, a band, heavy hors d'oeuvres and refreshments complemented the event.

Speeches started the festivities.  In his speech, Wayne Anderson, president of R/C Theaters,  welcomed the mayors of Daytona Beach, Florida and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, two new locations for upcoming R/C Theatres.  Once the speeches were complete, the ribbon was cut, and attendees were able to pick their movie of choice, as well as their concession stand selections -- on the house!

Formerly Pinellas Square Mall, ParkSide has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation.  It is located on one of the most active intersections in Pinellas County.  Complementing the theater complex,  ParkSide has a large ice-skating rink situated in the center of the mall with a food court overlooking the action.  Exclusively leased and managed by Divaris Real Estate and owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Company, the mall is undergoing extensive renovations and attracting new retailers due to its superior location and facilities. 

Surf 'N Sand, Laskin Road, Virginia Beach

After many years of successful performances, the lights went down at Surf 'N Sand, a Regal Cinemas movie house in Virginia Beach, Virginia in January 2001...but only temporarily!

Surf 'N Sand is convenient to Virginia Beach tourists and residents alike.

Built in 1991 by R/C Theatres, Surf 'N Sand was subleased to Regal Cinemas in 1998 in a ten-theater deal throughout Virginia.  Convenient to oceanfront residents, and only a few blocks from the Virginia Beach resort area, the eight-screen theatre provided a convenient trip to the movies for both tourists and residents alike.  Sadly, the small cinema found itself caught up in the doldrums experienced by the major movie theater operators, who focused on more modern theatres with larger footprints.  These facts, coupled with the recent financial troubles of Regal Cinemas caused the curtain to close on Surf 'N Sand.  However, R/C looked at the niche market it had created in 1991 and decided to step back in.  Along with Divaris, a plan to renovate Surf 'N Sand was put into place. 

When plans of the renovation became public, the local residents were ecstatic.  "This is just what we need," says Vikki Etheridge, a native of Virginia Beach.  "This theatre is a much needed venue in our area.  Right now, in order to go to a movie, we have to travel quite a distance."  Surf 'N Sand is the only movie theatre on the oceanfront and had a long-standing, local customer base who had consistently voted the facility "The Best of the Beach."

While the theatre reopened in time for the Memorial Day blockbusters, there's still some ongoing renovation work.  Dennis Daniels, chief operating officer of R/C Theatres, says the reconstruction process is underway.  The cinema's marquee was replaced, a new coat of paint was applied and two of the theatres have already been converted to stadium seating, with the balance to be converted within 12 months.  This makes movie patrons like Debra Bunn very happy.   Bunn began visiting another cinema because of stadium seating, but says she would definitely go to Surf 'N Sand now that stadium seating has been introduced.  "Stadium seating for short people like me makes all the difference in the world!" she jokes.  After Labor Day, Daniels shut down auditoriums one at a time, in order to have all eight theatres converted to stadium seating by Christmas. 

"The stadium seating is really the main issue," says Daniels.  "Surf 'N Sand is in a great location and it already had digital surround sound. it's as up-to-date as other theatres and it provides intimacy."   Most importantly, the theater shows the latest first-run blockbusters at the doorstep of the community and close to Virginia Beach's tourists.

R/C was founded in 1932 by Maurice A. Cohen, and acquired in May 1999 by J. Wayne Anderson and a group of investors and staff.  Billed as "technically correct," each stadium-seating multi-plex theatre includes custom designed, comfortable seats with unparalleled sight lines from any direction.  Wide spaces between rows allow for ample leg room, making going to the movies a completely relaxed experience.  State-of-the-art digital sound systems enhance the music and voices of your movie of choice, and great food complement the overall theatre trip.