GAINES TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Studio C is celebrating the reconstruction of Celebration Cinema South in Gaines Charter Township.

The 11-screen multiplex first opened its doors in 2005, and has been under a $4 million refurbishment since early January.

J.D. Loeks, the president & C-E-O of Studio C, will make some remarks at a free biannual event tonight called "The Preview Experience." Guests will watch trailers for upcoming movies, gain early access to refillable popcorn buckets, and register for drawings and prizes.

Here is more information from a Studio C news release:

After four months of partial closure and significant reconstruction, Studio C is happy to announce that Celebration Cinema South, located at 1506 Eastport Drive near Kalamazoo & 60th Street in Grand Rapids, is ready to celebrate a grand reopening on Monday, April 29th.

Built by John Loeks, Celebration Cinema GR South first opened its doors on October 11, 2005. It has since been the movie-going home to more than 7.5 million guests. Under the leadership of general managers Betsy Artz and Connie Mester, the theatre has been a true community hub for close to nineteen years.

Studio C has invested more than 4M in the renovation. Regular customers have weathered four months of dust, but also received a taste of the changes to come. Most exciting:

·completed conversion to luxury recliners with heated seat backs

·‘C Premium’ auditorium with Dolby Atmos sound and 4K laser projectors

·full kitchen & bar with expanded food and beverage offerings (service/delivery to movie-goers at their reserved seat launches on Tuesday, April 30!)

·major refreshment of carpet, flooring, wallpaper & paint

Celebration Cinema South guests can join in the celebration on Monday, April 29, at The Preview Experience. This is a FREE bi-annual event in which movie avids can get a first look at ALL the trailers for the most anticipated movies coming out in the upcoming season, have early access to refillable popcorn buckets and register for special drawings & prizes. Remarks will be offered by J.D. Loeks, President and CEO of Studio C, at 6:15PM. All movie-goers and theatre guests on the evening of the 29th will be able to enjoy FREE samples from the new menu, available in the theatre lobby.

In honor of the grand reopening, Celebration Cinema South will bring back the biggest movie of its 2005 opening season for just $5.00! Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire will open on Friday, May 3, and play for a full week.

“We are so proud of this theatre and the experiences we’ve been able to provide here,” says Connie Mester, General Manager of Celebration Cinema South. “It’s been gratifying to welcome back our long-time favorite guests and new ones with seats, sound and stories that they ‘oooh and ahhh’ over. People need theatres for connection, for escape and sometimes for a good laugh or cry. We hope the community will come enjoy that with us, and that we can serve the purpose of bringing people together for years to come.”

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About Studio C: Studio C creates space where the story happens, giving diverse communities a place to gather around movies, music, dining, and events. Studio C companies, include Celebration Cinema, with eleven locations in west and mid-Michigan including the Getty Drive In; ShowSpan, the premier producer of consumer shows in the Midwest; the Midtown, a state-of-the-art music venue; One Twenty Three Tavern and Elsa’s are owned by John D. Loeks.