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Regal Entertainment

Lloyd Cinemas is dead. Long live Lloyd Cinemas!

Earlier this week, we wrote about the Northeast Portland plot of land that's currently occupied by Lloyd Cinemas—and the fact it's set to become "1400 NE Multnomah," a mixed-used development that will ultimately provide 1,300 housing units.

For that to happen, it was clear that Lloyd Cinemas would need to close. What was less clear was what would happen next. It was hard to imagine the Knoxville-based Regal Entertainment corporation not replacing Lloyd Cinemas with something, considering the multiplex has long dominated that part of Portland in terms of moviegoing. And over the past few years, there have been rumors of a new Regal theater being planned for the area, but they've been difficult to confirm.

But now we know what's next: Regal Entertainment will build a new, 14-screen multiplex in the east end of the Lloyd Center mall, kitty-corner from where Lloyd Cinemas currently sits.

"At Lloyd Center, guests will enjoy a new state-of-the-art theatre featuring Regal Luxury Recliners providing more room and comfort," reads Regal’s press release. "The theatre will also include a bar and dining options located in the lobby complete with lounge seating."



RELATED: "Lloyd Cinemas to Be Replaced by 1,300-Unit Mixed-Use Development" [Blogtown, Feb 28, 2018]

This new theater is coming soon, too: With development for the first phase of 1400 NE Multnomah is "aiming for completion in 2018," Regal's press release says the Lloyd Center theater is scheduled to be finished in 2019.

"The existing Regal theatre will remain in operation until completion of this project," the press release continues, "at which point it is scheduled to be demolished."

This isn't Regal’s first time in Lloyd Center—they had a smaller multiplex in the mall that quietly closed in 2015. This new one, though—billed as not only serving as an "anchor" for the mall, but with "luxury amenities" that will "provide Portland moviegoers with an unrivaled cinematic experience"—sounds like a step up. It also follows a trend that can be seen in other nearby theaters, like the Cinetopia chain, downtown's Living Room Theaters, and the “luxury lounger" seats at Century Eastport: Making a night out at the movies fancier, comfier, and more effective at luring people off their couches and away from Netflix.

We'll have more about Regal's new multiplex as we learn about more about it. In terms of going to the movies this weekend, though? Here are the Mercury's movie reviews, and here are our movie times.