This is awesome!

http://www.mustangpaper.com/2017/02/21/220266/

This kind of stinks "The interior of the theater will be different than the Moore location, which has 21 screens. Midwest City would not have an IMAX screen, a game room or restaurant on the first floor. An enhanced concession will serve food items on the first floor. The building would feature Warren’s trademark grand entrance and two-story lobby. The theater would also include a 12-14 foot berm that would serve as a buffer to the residential north of the property."

Here is a site plan and more info from the City of MWC, which indicates 14 auditoriums vs. the 10 mentioned in the article posted above:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/warrenmwc2.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/warrenmwc1.jpg


MWC News & Announcements

Posted on: February 21, 2017
Warren Theatres, Inc. announces plan to build new theater in Midwest City

William “Bill” Warren, Founder and President of Warren Theatres, Inc. announced that his company is planning to build and operate a new theater in Midwest City, OK. If the project plan is adopted by the City Council, it will be the company’s ninth theater in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Warren was in Midwest City speaking to city officials and the Local Development Act Review Committee (Committee) about the concept for the new theater. “This proposed theater is our newest and greatest Warren Theatre luxury design,” Warren said. He went on to say that the Midwest City theater will feature 14 auditoriums, including four adult balconies with reclining seats, a second-floor restaurant and bar with upscale concessions on the first floor. All seats throughout the theater will be reserved.

Warren added that the footprint of the theater will not be spared as Midwest City patrons will experience the same upscale finishes, such as granite, marble, hand-painted murals, neon lights, sculpted ceilings and terrazzo flooring as are in all the Warren Theatres. Each auditorium will feature waterfall curtains and the latest state-of-the-art sound and projection technology available.

The proposed theatre will be a part of the second phase of the Sooner Rose Shopping Center, located at S.E. 15th ST and Sooner Road. Phase one of the development includes Academy Sports + Outdoor and Hobby Lobby. Phase 2 of the development will offer additional retail and dining options in addition to the unique entertainment venue.

The project will be managed by Sooner Investment Group (Developer), who also managed the development of the Midwest City Town Center Plaza project and who still manages the day-to-day operations of the project.

Developer representative Leland Clark said that in addition to the theatre, they will be targeting other retail stores and new concept dining options. “This proposed development will be a major district, yet different from the Town Center Plaza. As we are not trying to duplicate that project, we will be trying to bring something entirely new and exciting to the city,” Clark said.

Midwest City Economic Development Director, Robert Coleman, stated that if the project goes through, the city will see an increase in sales and use tax as well as increased ad valorem taxes to the Mid-Del School system, Rose State College and OK County.

Coleman added that the property has pretty much remained dormant since most of it was destroyed in the May 3, 1999 tornado and with the proposed improvements, the result will be the creation of a district that will probably produce over $60 million in gross annual revenues by its fifth year in operation and will create over 300 jobs.

Midwest City Mayor Matt Dukes called this plan a game changer for the City. “This new development concept, including a Warren Theatre is something that our citizens have been asking for a long time. It is very exciting to think that this project, along with the new retail and dining options, could become a reality for our citizens to enjoy,” Dukes said.

In January, the City Council approved a resolution declaring its intent to consider the designation of this area of the city as a Tax Increment Finance District (TIF). Thus, Oklahoma law requires the creation of a Committee and requires that prior to approval by the City Council, the Committee must consider and determine whether the project plan will have a financial impact on any taxing jurisdiction and business activities within the proposed district and shall report its findings to the Council. The approval of any district plan or project by the Council must address any findings of such impact by the Committee.

It is the Committee’s priority to recommend that the project plan be approved, denied or approved subject to conditions set forth by the Committee. If the Committee does recommend approval to the City Council, they will possibly consider the project plan during the second council meeting in March, 2017.

Did they decide to build a MWC location instead of a north side location or are they still interested in the north side?

;) Finally a movie theater!

Did they decide to build a MWC location instead of a north side location or are they still interested in the north side?

They will be doing both.

This is a good get for MWC, hope the one in Edmond is similar size.

This is amazing! Not even 1 mile from my house!:D

My memory is fading but years ago didn't a tornado travel through the location where the Sooner Rose development is currently located?

My memory is fading but years ago didn't a tornado travel through the location where the Sooner Rose development is currently located?

Yes

Once upon a time MWC had 3 indoor and 1 drive-in movie theaters....

This is a good get for MWC, hope the one in Edmond is similar size.Edmond is not getting a Warren.

My memory is fading but years ago didn't a tornado travel through the location where the Sooner Rose development is currently located?
But the 2013 tornado also clipped the Warren in Moore.

Edmond is not getting a Warren.

The last I heard was that they were scouting around Eastern and 122nd. Maybe Pete can fill us in on the latest northside location information.

The last I heard was that they were scouting around Eastern and 122nd. Maybe Pete can fill us in on the latest northside location information.
Ah I thought the OP was referring to Covell and I-35.

It would be nice if Stillwater could get a Warren, so there could be something other than the dismal Carmike. But I guess college students don't have the money to go to the movies.

“This proposed theatre is our newest and greatest Warren Theatre luxury design,” said William “Bill” Warren, Found and President of Warren Theatres, Inc. http://kfor.com/2017/02/21/plan-announced-for-new-warren-theatre-in-midwest-city/

hmm MWC? I used to live there---wouldn't this just cannibalize the Moore location? I know there's probably a good customer base in Moore/Norman, but i recall reading that Moore Warren drew a lot of its customers from south OKC...looking forward to one on the North side!

Mark, no i dont think so at all. There isn't a movie theater anywhere in the EOC area. The closest one is Crossroads AMC. As mentioned, MWC had several theaters over the years but they were all the old style and had few screens (1/2/3/5). The old single one is long gone with the Town Center development. The 2 screen is now the sole remnant of a strip center at 15th/Air Depot...houses a furniture store...Eckerds used to be there along with some other things that are long gone. Heritage Park had 3, obviously closed. Heritage Plaza had 5, but now it's a church. So really the mall is the only space that wasn't reutilized, which is pretty dang good, but also had something to do with the spaces being smaller.

I'm at 240, but i'd go to this new Warren over Crossroads for sure. For one thing, it's closer to other shopping/eateries. There are 100k+ people in EOC (mostly right there in MWC/DC) so no one can say there aren't enough people to make use of it. With the closest options being as far as they are, i think more people simply don't go to the movies from the EOC right now. 1, being a Warren, and 2, being so close, you'll see a major uptick in moviegoers in the EOC area. It's not RIGHT on the highway,l but you can see I40 from both Sooner and 15th from the parking lot.

This is a million+ likes here.....

hmm MWC? I used to live there---wouldn't this just cannibalize the Moore location? I know there's probably a good customer base in Moore/Norman, but i recall reading that Moore Warren drew a lot of its customers from south OKC...looking forward to one on the North side!

There might be some, but the Moore location is so busy that honestly it won't be a bad thing for both the audience and the theatre if some of the demand was siphoned to another location. The Mustang Paper link in the OP also has Bill Warren reporting that only 10% or less of the Moore Warren customers come from MWC.

In one of the articles about this, Warren was quoted as saying that they did research and found only a small percentage of their Moore customers came from the Midwest City area.

Now I am curious what that "unique entertainment venue" is going to be. Maybe that is just me getting greedy!

I'm so excited!! I figured we'd eventually get a theater but I never dreamt it'd be a Warren!

My memory is fading but years ago didn't a tornado travel through the location where the Sooner Rose development is currently located?
Yep. It hit the Tinker gate on Sooner then kept going north up the road. May 3, 1999.

It actually started lifting near I-40 and wasn't technically on the ground right here, but still did plenty of damage.

Home Depot, the Sheraton, Dental Depot, etc are all there now because the tornado took out what was there. I've never forgiven Cracker Barrel for leaving MWC, but i think they ended up seeing how wrong they were when everything took off afterwards.

The tornado only did minor damage to Sooner Rose Elementary, because it happen to go through the large field just east of it (exactly where the Warren will now be). However, it did damage a LOT of homes in the neighborhood just north of there. Some were obliterated, but most of them sort of got lifted off the foundation some and slammed back down crooked. So from an overhead view, it didn't look like the Moore area near First Baptist/I-35, but the homes were still a total loss. The difference being people could go in and recover most of their stuff in MWC. My aunt and uncle lived on Char Lane (faces Reno Ave) and even there had roof damage on the back side of their house from the homes across the tracks behind them, sending debris into their roof. I did some clean up with my family there and it was a mess. Downed power lines, old growth trees everywhere, tarps on all the roofs. Thankfully it lifted the rest of the way before crossing the railroad tracks. Just a little more north and an extremely densely populated neighborhood (near Cleveland Bailey Elem) would have been right in the cross-hairs.

Three lives were lost when the May 3rd, 1999 tornado crossed over 15th street just east of S. Sooner Road. Two of those lives, family members.

The man we considered our great-grandfather, just turning 80 and weighing less than a buck ten, got his wife, half his age, and got into their car to try and out run the oncoming tornado. The tornado pushed our great-grandfathers car into a tree in the field just north of their house. His chest hit the steering wheel stopping his heart and passing away as the air was sucked from inside the car. His wife, Patsy, was pulled half way out of the car before her upper half left her bottom half in the car. This is how the first responders found them.

Their car, the last place they were alive, sat in the back lot of another family members house for many years. Still showing the scars and bent metal, now rusty with age.

We knew it was an impossibility for them with such a wide age range to go at the same time as they always wished they would, and this was their chance. This May will be 18 years.

:congrats: Welcome to Warren Theaters !!!! Finally!!!! I am very happy now. we can't wait to see there soon. God Bless Welcome!!!! YAYAYAYA..... Thank you for chooses this votes..... AWESOME!!!!! :yourock:

William Crum said on Twitter earlier about Warren Theatres plans for the northeast location off the Kilpatrick. Pete do you have any more info on where exactly? I know you have mentioned a few different spots before.

http://newsok.com/midwest-city-council-approves-details-for-retail-project/article/5547161

They should start construction on begin with Lot #3 and Lot #4 a few day ago. Do you have any idea what have a planning to set up new restaurants or retails?

Don't know if this is the best thread for this, but apparently all of the Warrens have been sold to Regal? If so, ugh.

http://www.kake.com/story/35470642/bill-warren-sells-all-wichita-oklahoma-theatres?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KAKE-TV

Don't know if this is the best thread for this, but apparently all of the Warrens have been sold to Regal? If so, ugh.


Ugh indeed.... Hope they don't change them much... if at all.

Regal is owned by Philip Anschutz who also recently bought the Oklahoman / OPUBCO.

Hope this doesn't stall the two Warrens planned for OKC but it very well may.

Regal Entertainment Group Completes Acquisition of Warren Theatres

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regal Entertainment Group, a leading motion picture exhibitor owning and operating one of the largest theatre circuits in the United States, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of seven existing Warren Theatres in Kansas and Oklahoma. Regal continues to raise the bar by investing in local markets and providing luxury amenities that enhance the movie going experience.

The transaction will add a total of seven theatres with 93 screens to Regal’s portfolio, including the Warren 14/IMAX in Moore, Oklahoma – the 17th highest grossing theater in the United States in 2016.

“Warren Theatres have become the market leader in both Wichita and Oklahoma City by providing superior customer service and a myriad of upscale amenities, including reclining seats, large format screens and a wide array of food and beverage options,” stated Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. “We are honored and excited to add these high-quality assets to our circuit and expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to our earnings and cash flow.”

President of Warren Theatres, Bill Warren, has considered past offers, but chose to go forward with the Regal proposal, stating: “I know our movie-going guests and our 1,400 cast members will be in great hands with Regal. I have long been impressed with Regal’s high standards of quality showmanship and outstanding customer service.”

This addition to Regal’s theatre circuit is a great strategic fit. Regal is continuously seeking new and innovative ideas to enhance the guest experience. Luxurious King-Size Recliners, immersive technology, expanded food menus, and industry leading loyalty program Regal Crown Club are a few of the many ways Regal seeks to provide our guests an opportunity to enjoy the movies.

About Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 7,262 screens in 559 theatres in 43 states along with Guam, Saipan, American Samoa and the District of Columbia as of March 31, 2017. The Company operates theatres in 48 of the top 50 U.S. designated market areas. We believe that the size, reach and quality of the Company’s theatre circuit not only provide its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable movie-going experience, but is also an exceptional platform to realize economies of scale in theatre operations.

Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.REGmovies.com.

I have a bad feeling the quality is about to go down...

I have a bad feeling the quality is about to go down...

I have a feeling there will be no more real butter on the popcorn! :(

I have a bad feeling the 2 new theatres won't be built....

I have a feeling there will be no more real butter on the popcorn! :(

Just swipe your Regal Crown Card and after seeing 10 movies in a three month period we will dispense real butter for you! *Terms subject to change. 1oz per customer.

Anschutz has been buying theater chains for a long time, mainly failing companies on the cheap.

He bought a bunch in SoCal including one very near me and it was about 15 years behind the competition and only minor improvements were made.

They own the Spotlight 14 in Norman and I don't think that place is very exciting.

Whether the North OKC & MWC theaters will go forward will likely depend on how nailed-down the leases are. I would think both could easily be abandoned by Regal if that was their desire.

I believe they mainly do acquisitions, and not much new construction.

Well this is sh*tty news.

Anschutz has been buying theater chains for a long time, mainly failing companies on the cheap.

He bought a bunch in SoCal including one very near me and it was about 15 years behind the competition and only minor improvements were made.

They own the Spotlight 14 in Norman and I don't think that place is very exciting.

Whether the North OKC & MWC theaters will go forward will likely depend on how nailed-down the leases are. I would think both could easily be abandoned by Regal if that was their desire.

I believe they mainly do acquisitions, and not much new construction.

They

The one in Norman is pretty awful. Old screens and bad concessions for 8 bucks a ticket during matinees. On the plus side it is never crowded.

The one in Norman is pretty awful. Old screens and bad concessions for 8 bucks a ticket during matinees. On the plus side it is never crowded.

Last time I was there it smelled horrible too.

On the plus side the Moore Warren was just totally renovated... So it shouldn't need any improvements made to it in awhile.

On the plus side the Moore Warren was just totally renovated... So it shouldn't need any improvements made to it in awhile.

I just worry based on other Regal offerings they are going to start cutting corners. Higher prices on food while lowering quality.

If they cancel the proposed theatres I'll never give them another dime.

Regal acquired other, larger chains like United Artists and Edwards. In those cases, they left the exterior signage / names but rebranded everything inside to Regal.

With smaller chains, they almost always remove the old names completely.

I suspect the Moore location will eventually be renamed Regal and if the two new places still go forward, you can bet they will be Regals.

I live practically across the street from the one in Norman and I won't go in there. The carpet is absolutely disgusting and the seats aren't comfortable at all.

BTW, I expect statements will come out saying how nothing has changed, everything is still going forward, etc.

And I hope that is true.

But I was a management consultant in L.A. for a decade and worked on a bunch of acquisitions. On Day 1 everyone is always told nothing will change.

But then everything changes, which is part of the reason and certainly the synergy of buying an existing business.

Hope this works out for the best but my experience tells me otherwise.

according to this article (http://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article151485057.html) the two new theatres for okc are not part of the sale.

That really sucks I guess money always talks but I thought Bill Warren had something really special with his theater group. I always go out of my way to drive to the Moore Warren to see a movie to support a smaller "indie" theater chain that has always done good to me. Food is always fresh, theaters spotless, audio/video perfect etc etc. I can't believe that Regal will be able to keep up the love Bill showed his employees and his theaters.

according to this article (http://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article151485057.html) the two new theatres for okc are not part of the sale.

Hope arises!

That really sucks I guess money always talks but I thought Bill Warren had something really special with his theater group. I always go out of my way to drive to the Moore Warren to see a movie to support a smaller "indie" theater chain that has always done good to me. Food is always fresh, theaters spotless, audio/video perfect etc etc. I can't believe that Regal will be able to keep up the love Bill showed his employees and his theaters.

Exactly! I always made the drive to support Warren as well because the experience was so pleasant. I will not do that for Regal. I'll watch it in my own home eventually over a Regal.

according to this article (http://www.kansas.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/carrie-rengers/article151485057.html) the two new theatres for okc are not part of the sale.

Very good news.

At least they will have tons of money now for these new projects.

Very good news.

At least they will have tons of money now for these new projects.

There have been lots of rumors over the years of a theater going in at UNP..... Wonder if he may consider building one of his "3rd reincarnations of the movie business" there.

It sounds like he is doing this to gather capital for his new theater concept.
Which really is awesome news for the 2 new theaters, it really makes me wonder what will be different about these though other than their smaller size. Or maybe the entire idea is to make the theaters more easily accessible.

I'm just hearing about this and it makes me sick. Regal will turn Warren into a freakin' WalMart for Movies Slum in less than six months.

Just. Sickening.

Beyond that, I can't believe Bill Warren sold out.

I'm just stunned. And not in a good way.

I'm guessing Warren is going put all of his resources into the boutique theater concept. He may want to be more innovative with smaller brand.

or he is retiring and cashing out.....................

Either way, a metaphorical tornado just hit the theater in Moore. It will take a a year or two to know the full damage.

This saddens me for the potential warren in NW OKC. However, I'll just keep driving to the AMC at Penn.

I wouldn't be surprised if NW OKC and Midwest City locations are going to be a lot more different than originally thought. When we first heard about them, they just sounded like smaller versions of all the other theaters. If that's all they are, whats the point of keeping them and building as planned? It also makes not serving alcohol at these two locations more crazy when potential competitors with similar concepts will be serving alcohol.

Welp, a cohort relayed some scuttlebutt (and I stress that's all it is) to me that rumblings are that senior Warren is aging and really wants out on his own terms, and the rest of his family is apparently only lukewarm at best to the idea of taking over. Don't know if it's true, but if it is, it doesn't sound good for the two new theaters.