Movie Tavern theaters welcome back movie-goers

When the coronavirus began to spread across the country, one of the business segments hit hard by the pandemic was movie theaters.

Now, after being closed for the last five months, Movie Tavern locations in West Whiteland, Upper Providence and Springfield will reopen — just in time for the weekend.

When the theaters reopen Friday, Aug. 28, the experience will be a little different — with reduced theater capacity and newly implemented safety measures designed to keep guests and employees safe and to minimize the spread of the virus.

The Montgomery and Chester County theaters are three of the four Movie Taverns in Pennsylvania — the fourth Movie Tavern is located in Trexlertown.

Milwaukee, Wis.-based Marcus Theatres purchased the 22 theater Movie Tavern chain in early 2019. The company currently owns or operates a total of 1,097 screens at 90 locations in 17 states. As of Aug. 21, 41 of Marcus Theatres’ locations had reopened. This weekend that number will grow to 72. The remainder will open in September.

Rob Novak, vice president of concessions for Marcus Theatres, said the company’s theaters across the country were closed by mid-March. In early April, the company was in planning mode.

“We focused on a reopening plan — ‘How will we do it?’ We put our efforts into that. We made decisions on what needed to be done, disinfecting, spacing out showtimes, social distancing,” he said, adding that the planning will continue, as the company and country learn more about the virus.

The result of that planning, he said, is an experience he is confident is safe for customers and employees.

“Any business shuttered from its primary function is waiting with high anticipation to get back to return to normality. We are welcoming customers and showing new movies so they can have a sense of normality in life and we can have a sense of normality, as well,” Novak added.

What to expect

One of the first changes Novak stressed is the reduced capacity. Each theater is limited to selling a total of 25 tickets for each show.

MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO The Movie Tavern theaters in Montgomery and Chester counties are reopening this weekend — after being closed for five months. The theaters reopen today — with new occupancy and safety procedures in place. This file photo shows a view of the facade of the Movie Tavern in the Providence Town Center, shortly after its July 2011 opening.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Movie Tavern theaters in Montgomery and Chester counties are reopening this weekend — after being closed for five months. Occupancy in each theater will be reduced. This photo shows a row of seats taped off. Two seats will be left empty between each group of customers.