HAMPTON ROADS, Va.— After dimming the lights during the pandemic, the silver screen is shining once again for a local theater chain.
Cinema Café is bringing back the classics at two of their locations Friday. The company is welcoming movie lovers back to enjoy classic films at their Edinburgh and Pembroke Meadows locations.
“We want people to come back to the movies and we want them to have a good time, so we’re going to to do what we can make sure that it happens,” says marketing director Caitlin Walker.
You can still buy a ticket at the door, but they encourage people to buy tickets online to avoid lines at the box office.
“[The] great thing about reserve seating is that it really staggers people coming in. People don’t have to wait in line to get the best seats in the auditorium anymore,” says Walker.
Some seats will not be sold to allow for social distancing. There will be two seats on both side of separate groups to promote social distancing.
Virginia’s COVID-19 guidelines allow theaters to operate at 50% capacity or less.
Related: A look at COVID-19 business guideline enforcement throughout Hampton Roads
Guests will have to wear masks while up and moving around the theater. The company anticipates that could be the biggest challenge.
“We’re just asking for people to be respectful and kind of those orders,” says Walker.
Theaters have at least seven feet between each row, and seats will continued to be cleaned between guests.
“We are sanitizing every seat, handle, touchpoint in between every show.”
They hope to test the waters at the Edinburgh and Pembroke Meadows locations before opening more theaters in the future.
