'Luxury' movie theatre coming to Calgary's Market Mall

Market Mall is getting a new theatre, and this time it's billed as bringing "luxury" to the silver screen.

The grand opening is slated for spring 2019.The mall in northwest Calgary had a Famous Players theatre previously, but it closed in 2002.

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"As a Calgary-based company, Landmark Cinemas is incredibly excited to bring our recliner experience to CF Market Mall," Bill Walker, CEO ofLandmark Cinemas, said in a release.

"Recliner seating, combined with complimentary reserved seating, provides an unsurpassed movie-going experience while maintaining a value proposition that allows customers to enjoy the movies more often."

It will be located in the southwest corner of the mall, in the space formerly occupied by Staples. The plan includes five screens with619 "premium powered recliner seats" with extended footrests. Itwill be pre-purchased reserved seating only.

More restaurants possible with evening traffic

Market Mall has been undergoing renovationsover the past year, with Zara opening its biggest store in the city and Sporting Life making a debut.Premium off-price retailer Saks Fifth Avenue Off5thannounced it will be opening a 30,000 square-footstore this fall.

"We always knew that a theatre is the kind of tenant we want to have here. We know that our shoppers would love to have a theatre here," said Darren Milne, general manager for CF Market Mall, told CBCNews.

"We really felt like the experience that Landmark brings to that industry was the kind of experience our shoppers are looking for."

Milne says they hope the theatre will drive more evening traffic, which could provide opportunities for more restaurants down the road. He says that bringing Landmark theatres to Market Mall should also help distinguish it from CadillacFairview's other shopping centre in Calgary, Chinook Centre.

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"We are in a really affluent area," said Milne. "You look at the average household income that's produced byStats Canada and our primary tradearea has a high household income. We think they're going toappreciate a premium movie theatre experience, but also one that stillcaters to families and to kids."

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