SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- Now showing at a mall in Schuylkill County: movies in new digital theaters that offer stadium seating.
The project, costing more than $1 million, has eight new theaters, a bar restaurant on the way, and VIP theaters with luxury seating; something moviegoers say they don't normally see in Schuylkill County, but something they welcome with open arms.
The new movie theater at the Schuylkill Mall near Frackville doesn't look like much from the outside but when you go inside, it's a whole different world.
"I think it's beautiful, I think it's really nice, to finally have a nice place to take your child and you don't have to go through traffic and long car rides," said Nadine Mason of Friedensburg.
The $1.8 million renovations include a total of eight digital theaters, with luxury seating and tablet-controlled movies.
The two newest theaters feature stadium seating, an overall better experience say moviegoers.
"The first time I came here, it was so tiny, people were so loud, it was awful. Now it's gorgeous, there's space between chairs, no one's kicking you. It's beautiful," said Tiffani Battaglia of Schuylkill Haven.
Another perk at the theaters is the screening room. In just a few weeks you'll be able to grab a cocktail and then come inside the VIP theater, sit down in your luxury seat and enjoy the show.
Only people 21 and over will be allowed to take alcohol into the VIP theater.
"Me and my husband will enjoy that a lot. It will be a night out and we can booze at the same time," said Debbie Manhart of Ashland.
The owners say they wanted to bring in something big for the people of Schuylkill County. They wanted folks to drive from outside the area for the big theater experience and they wanted to push traffic through the mall, making it a win-win situation.
"That was part of the ideas and game plan, was to keep everybody here and then you get a percentage of those people who will go shopping and go to the mall," said Mark Clement of the Pearl Theater.
Managers at the Schuylkill mall tell us they have seen more people at the mall since the movie theatre opened a few months ago.
The bar restaurant should open in the next few weeks.
Three more screens are being added. They should be finished in a few months.