A Movie Tavern in Covington, Louisiana.
Developers of the Gateway Town Center in Little Rock said Wednesday that Movie Tavern, a dine-in movie theater chain, is planning a new theater at the shopping center.
Colliers International Arkansas is brokering the deal, which hasn’t officially closed. But it said that, assuming due diligence and plans continue to “run smoothly,” the cinema could begin construction this year and open in 2017.
“Movie Tavern will be one of the landmark anchors at Gateway Town Center, joining Bass Pro Shops, the Outlets at Little Rock and Dave and Buster’s to truly make this an entertainment destination for Arkansans and anyone passing through,” said Issac Smith, principal and executive vice president at Colliers.
Owned by Southern Theatres LLC of New Orleans, Movie Tavern has 187 screens in 22 locations across nine states. It combines first-run movies with a dining menu and a full bar. The 46,000-SF Little Rock theater would have 11 screens.
Colliers, the leasing agent for the shopping center, also announced two other new tenants: Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and Gateway Nail Salon and Spa.
Taziki’s is a casual dining restaurant that offers Mediterranean cuisine. Grilled salmon and vegetables, ciabatta bread, Mediterranean salad with roasted chicken, herb-roasted pork loin and several gluten-free options are among the restaurant’s dishes.
Colliers announced earlier this week that it had assembled a private investor group that had purchased about 54 acres surrounding the Outlets of Little Rock and Bass Pro Shops, aiming to continue its development as a key entertainment district called The Grove at Gateway Town Center.
The company did not identify the investor group or disclose the purchase price.
The 325,000-SF Outlets of Little Rock opened last fall. Developers have said they expect the center to take in $100 million in annual retail sales.
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