Thursday is the day for excited movie-goers in St. John’s County. It's the day that the new XD Cinemark at the Pavilion at Durbin Park opens!
The opening marks the beginning of what workers hope will be an anchor to the new shopping area. First Coast News went behind the scenes for a sneak peek.
The cinema is centered around the "movie-going experience." There’s a full bar and food menu, reclining chairs that heat up and an XD cinema.
Cinemark leaders say they want to change the way you watch movies.
“We’ve upgraded the movie-going experience with this theater,” said Cinemark Marketing Manager Jessica Thomasson. “Everything from the architecture to your food and beverage offerings."
There are kiosks to buy your ticket and pick your seat. If you don’t want to do that you can get your ticket from guest services or online.
The XD auditorium’s screen takes up an entire wall, has about 200 seats and has more than 50 speakers on the walls and ceiling.
Tickets for the XD auditorium are $3 more than the regular priced tickets. Ask about discounts like military discounts or ones for seniors.
The theater also has a room for birthday parties. They hope to make it a place for families to make memories.
"The community is booming right now,” said Thomasson. ”There's so much excitement and we're just thrilled to bring an ultimate night out experience."
They hope the Cinemark encourages more businesses like it to pop up as the area grows.
"It's just real exciting to be a part of the community to where we can invite all of you out and experience the movie in a new and exciting way," Thomasson said.
The development at Durbin Park could become the largest shopping center in northeast Florida by square footage.