Colleyville Cinema Grille and IMAX Theatre reopened last week under new management after being closed since January, and Mark Schulman was there welcoming people into the theater.
Schulman, of the Schulman Partners Group, operates the business. He said his family has operated movie theaters for about 82 years, and he started serving popcorn in the theaters when he was about 4 years old.
Schulman described the Friday event as a "soft opening," and said the grand opening events will take place sometime in September after the business receives a liquor license. Steve Laukhuf, a spokesman for Schulman Partners, said the theater has been redecorated to give it more of a movie theme.
"We are very family oriented, so it fits the Colleyville market," he said.
The theater was formerly owned by William Baldridge, who operated under the name Metro Cinema and Indigo Grille until January when financial and legal difficulties forced the business to close.
The theater is owned by Charles Hodges Architectural Engineering, and Schulman Partners is managing the business. Company officials said if things go as planned they would like to purchase the theater.
Schulman Partners operates other movie theaters in Georgetown, Weatherford and Palestine.
The Colleyville theater continues to have seven standard screens and an IMAX screen. Colleyville Cinema Grille also offers private rooms for events such as birthday parties or corporate gatherings, or if just a group of people want to watch a film by themselves.
Individual ticket prices are $8.50 for adults and $6.50 for children and seniors. The IMAX tickets are $11.50 for adults and $9.50 for children and seniors.
Ted Price, owner of Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grille in Colleyville, was hired to be the general manager of Colleyville Cinema Grille.
"We chose someone who is invested in the community," Schulman said.
Price previously worked for the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando, Fla., in the 1990s. He said he thinks the word will spread that the theater is open again. Price said he has made sure quality food is served.
"I really think we are going to do great things here," he said.
Colleyville resident Susan Williams, who came for the opening, described the food as "very good.""The prices are also much better," Williams said. "We are so excited it has reopened."
See www.colleyvillecinema.com for movie listings or to purchase tickets.