A FIVE-STAR DAY
Families, cinephiles flock to grand opening of new Pittsburgh Mills movie theater
Anyone concerned about streaming services slowly phasing out the traditional movie theater experience would have been heartened by the scene in Frazer on Wednesday. That morning marked the grand opening of GQT Movies Pittsburgh Mills, the mall’s new movie theater replacing the Cinemark 18 theater that permanently closed last year. Doors opened at 10 a.m. for folks interested in seeing “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and other films on the big screen.
Since those two films and many others are available on HBO Max and Disney+, respectively, many movie lovers are watching them at home. But a few people showed up early to take advantage of $5 matinees and a free small popcorn, one of many promotions parent company GQT Movies has implemented in its first foray into the Western Pennsylvania
market.
The theater’s capacity was limited to 15% on opening day due to COVID-19 restrictions. That occupancy limit will increase to 75% starting April 4 once Gov. Tom Wolf’s ease-up order for businesses goes into effect. If this theater’s first customers are any indication, it could soon start reaping the economic benefits.
“I was ecstatic when I saw they were opening it,” said Diane Klein, 68, of Plum, who came to watch “Raya” with her grandchildren. “I read a little about the company to get an idea of who they were because I had never heard of the company. I just think they’re very smart starting small. ... I was pretty happy.”
Ms. Klein’s 6-year-old granddaughter, Talia Groenvynck, of Oakmont, was living her best life before she even reached her seat. She threw her hands in the air and yelled “Yay, popcorn!” when she realized she’d be getting a free treat.
Her brother, 9-year-old Tristan, was just thankful to be back in a movie theater, particularly one at this location.
“I always wanted to go to the movies after [Cinemark 18] closed and I couldn’t,” he said. “It was sad when it closed. I just wanted to watch a movie again.”
Also on hand to watch the early showing of “Raya” was the Horvatic family from Cheswick, including Nicholas, 40, Valerie, 37, and sons Evan, 8, and Julian, 6. Dad found GQT
Movies’ newest endeavor to be “really surprising and very welcome,” noting his concern a movie theater would never return to the mall, especially during the pandemic.
The Horvatic kids christened GQT Movies Pittsburgh Mills’ floor with the theater’s first popcorn spill, which was quickly cleaned up. The theater’s accommodations seemed to be to their liking.
“So far we’re having a good experience,” Valerie Horvatic said. “Everybody here was friendly and we got free popcorn to start our day. It was really nice.”
Another heartwarming sight on opening day was a father and son making a trip to a movie theater to watch two giant monsters pummel each other into oblivion. That’s what Tom Straw, 51, of Fox Chapel, and his 13year-old son, Rowan, were doing at “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
“We’re excited about the movie regardless of where it
is,” Tom Straw said. “But it was especially nice learning this was opening again.”
He said he felt safe returning to movie theaters as long as everyone kept their distance, which so far wasn’t a problem thanks to the theater’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols. All employees and customers were masked up and no one seemed too
worried.
It also didn’t hurt that a lot of these folks had already been vaccinated at least once. Ms. Klein was fully vaccinated, Mr. Straw recently had his first shot and Rose Wick, 75, of Cheswick, already received both injections.
“Pittsburgh Mills needs this,” she said. “I’m just thankful they’re here. And I will be a repeat person coming back.”
Theater employees were also psyched to get the show going. Matt McSparin, GQT Movies’ chief operating officer, was on hand overseeing first-day affairs and manager Sharon Goldstein was looking forward to having “a Godzilla day.”
Then there was Chalee Durand, 21, of Butler, who’s studying journalism via an online program at San Diego-based Ashford University. She’s a veteran of movie theater jobs, having also worked at an AMC in Sarver. She said she’s excited about the prospect of GQT Movies Pittsburgh Mills helping to lure people back to theaters.
“I just hope people can come out and enjoy going to movies again and not forget about it,” she said. “We’re still here, and we’re still hoping more people come.”