Destinta Movie Theater Reopening Under New Name
Phoenix Big Cinemas has now taken control of the movie theater and customers will get free popcorn with admission this weekend.
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The Destinta Theatres at Chartiers Valley Shopping Center closed this week, but will immediately be replaced by Phoenix Big Cinemas.
Workers were scraping off the Destina decals from the doors and crews were wheeling in snacks to the move theater Wednesday as Phoenix prepared to reopen the 18-screen cinema Friday.
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.
Phoenix Big Cinemas will honor Destinta gift certificates and passes until Nov. 1, 2012, according to a spokeswoman with the company.
To view show times, go to www.phoenixbigcinemas.com or call 412-914-0999.
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fc
9:44 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Was there any notice of this change?? I have $25 in gift certificates that I purchased a few weeks ago, and they said nothing to me. I hope Phoenix will honor them, but I have a feeling that is a pipedream. This consumer is not happy!
Mike Jones
4:54 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Phoenix Big Cinemas will honor Destinta gift certificates and passes until Nov. 1, 2012, according to a spokeswoman with the company.
Sherry
12:02 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Your Awesome Mike!
rose altvater
4:09 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
I hope these new folks will turn the lights on in the ladies room...Been to several movies these past few weeks, and there were few lights on. No soap and one sink working. Why do they build these obnoxiously big venues anyway ?...Look what happened to Star City, in South Fayette. Such a waste. Bring back the smaller more intimate theaters.
Mike Jones
4:16 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Maybe they were trying to save money by skimping on soap and electricity! Did you see my story about how an organization is trying to reopen the Denis Theatre in Mt. Lebanon? This is regional effort, so maybe you can support them with time or donations. Here's the story I wrote last year... http://chartiersvalley.patch.com/articles/denis-theatres-rebirth-moves-forward
Mike Jones
5:07 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Just called the theater and it seems like their prices are identical to Destinta.
Scott Beveridge
6:10 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
For some reason I never give that theater a thought when I go to the movies. I hope it survives, though.
Roger
8:01 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
An earnest desire for a business to survive never puts one dime in in the coffers. This is what happens to many businesses, "... sure hope they do well ...," "... I really like that store, but rarely ever go there to buy anything, ..." and the list goes on. The balance sheet has no entry for all the "hope for survival" inputs.
Witness: the recent closing of the cupcake store, the closing of two major grocery stores in Peters, (add your own here), ... Lots of people thought these were great places, but never patronized them.
Mike Jones
9:03 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Destinta lasted for more than 13 years. That seems to be an eternity for stadium seating movie theaters nowadays. Just look at the Star City. Hopefully Phoenix Big puts a few dollars in upgrades to lure people back. Destinta was beginning to fall apart in recent years.
As for why Scott Beveridge didn't patronize the Destinta... It's probably because he doesn't live anywhere near it.
Lisa C
9:25 am on Saturday, August 4, 2012
When Destinta opened, we went there all the time. It was a beautiful new theater with lots of food options, a coffee bar, bulk candy sales etc. Sadly, the owners did not ever seem to do one ounce of maintenance at the property. It went down hill quickly. As one of the above comments noted, lights would be out, sinks and toilets broken etc. The theater got a run down feel. It was just as easy for us to go to Settler's Ridge to the movies. The prices were pretty much the same and it is a clean theater. I hope the new ownership cleans things up and I'll be happy to return.
joy
10:30 am on Monday, March 25, 2013
I purchased vip tickets from the entertainment book for destinta theater; they don't expire until end of this year is there any theaters in pa or should I contact the entertainment book for a refund or will the current theater accept them????
Mike Jones
10:43 am on Monday, March 25, 2013
Joy... When did you purchase the entertainment book? The Destinta changed hands in August, so I'm not sure Phoenix Big will accept the tickets. You can also ask them if they will. If not, I would contact the Entertainment Book.