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September 21. 2012 12:54AM
Work continues on a new movie theater under construction in the Brackyard Square shopping center in Epping. O'Neil Cinemas is expected to open the theater in November. (JASON SCHREIBER/Union Leader Correspondent)
12-screen cinema in Epping looks at November opening
Work continues on a new movie theater under construction in the Brackyard Square shopping center in Epping. O'Neil Cinemas is expected to open the theater in November. (JASON SCHREIBER/Union Leader Correspondent)
EPPING — Movie-goers hoping to catch a horror flick at a new Epping theater before Halloween may be disappointed, but those looking for something brighter this holiday season should be in luck.
The 12-screen cinema under construction in the Brickyard Square shopping plaza on Route 125 was expected to open this month, but it's now looking at an opening in early to mid-November for 30,000-square-foot theater complex.
“We're hoping before Thanksgiving,” said Lacee Donohoe, general manager for O'neil Cinemas — the Londonderry company building the theater.
Property owner Waterstone Retail Development of Needham, Mass., is also proposing a nine-screen movie theater at Southgate Plaza on Route 1 in Portsmouth. That plan, which was expected to go before the Portsmouth Planning Board Thursday night, calls for demolishing a portion of an existing building and constructing a 28,335-square-foot cinema to seat 1,264.
While Cinemagic has expressed interest in the Southgate Plaza location, Bernie Pelech, a Portsmouth attorney representing Waterstone Retail Development, said he doesn't know for sure if that's the theater company planning to build there.
Meanwhile, Donohoe said O'neil Cinemas is looking forward to opening its new theater in Epping — an area that has seen rapid commercial growth on Route 125 over the last several years.
The theater will feature stadium seating for nearly 1,500 patrons, digital projection and sound, 3-D capabilities and motion seating.
“We get daily inquiries about it. People want to know when we're opening. Everybody seems really excited,” Donohoe said.
Officials from Waterstone Retail Development have said the theater will bring more restaurants to the 260,000-square-foot plaza, but so far Kume Sushi Hibachi is the only one identified. Several other tenants have not been named.
A Michaels craft store is also under construction and originally planned to open this fall, but is now looking at February.
Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.
The 12-screen cinema under construction in the Brickyard Square shopping plaza on Route 125 was expected to open this month, but it's now looking at an opening in early to mid-November for 30,000-square-foot theater complex.
“We're hoping before Thanksgiving,” said Lacee Donohoe, general manager for O'neil Cinemas — the Londonderry company building the theater.
Property owner Waterstone Retail Development of Needham, Mass., is also proposing a nine-screen movie theater at Southgate Plaza on Route 1 in Portsmouth. That plan, which was expected to go before the Portsmouth Planning Board Thursday night, calls for demolishing a portion of an existing building and constructing a 28,335-square-foot cinema to seat 1,264.
While Cinemagic has expressed interest in the Southgate Plaza location, Bernie Pelech, a Portsmouth attorney representing Waterstone Retail Development, said he doesn't know for sure if that's the theater company planning to build there.
Meanwhile, Donohoe said O'neil Cinemas is looking forward to opening its new theater in Epping — an area that has seen rapid commercial growth on Route 125 over the last several years.
The theater will feature stadium seating for nearly 1,500 patrons, digital projection and sound, 3-D capabilities and motion seating.
“We get daily inquiries about it. People want to know when we're opening. Everybody seems really excited,” Donohoe said.
Officials from Waterstone Retail Development have said the theater will bring more restaurants to the 260,000-square-foot plaza, but so far Kume Sushi Hibachi is the only one identified. Several other tenants have not been named.
A Michaels craft store is also under construction and originally planned to open this fall, but is now looking at February.
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Jason Schreiber may be reached at jschreiber@newstote.com.