Destinta Movie Theater Closes

closed this week, but will immediately be replaced by Phoenix Big Cinemas.

Workers were scraping off the Destinta decals from the doors and crews were wheeling in snacks to the move theater as Phoenix prepares to reopen the 18-screen cinema today.

Anyone coming to movies this Friday, Saturday and Sunday will receive a free popcorn with admission.

The new management company plans to improve the concession stand and upgrade the sales counter so customers can purchase their tickets online and pick them up at the gate. Phoenix also is planning to upgrade the theaters so each are have either digital or 3D capabilities.

Frequent members also will earn rewards points.

“The theatre upgrades and renovations will improve the overall cinema experience by offering a state-of-the-art Hollywood destination to our guests,” said Marc Kossman, who is part of the group that owns the property.

The transfer from Destinta to Phoenix is months in the making. The Kossmann Development group planned to change companies in mid-May and closed the movie theater for two days before Destinta apparently reached an agreement to continue to operate. Destinta was unable to keep operating and forced to shut down its Collier Township and North Versailles locations.

Destinta opened the 20-screen movie theater in the late 1990s and was a cutting-edge facility with an arcade that attracted kids and teens. Phoenix plans to reduce the number of theaters by two as it upgrades the other 18 to show more digital and 3D movies.

To view show times, go to www.phoenixbigcinemas.com or call 412-914-0999.