Ribbon Cutting at Silver Screen Cinema

By Sam Jordan, News / Sports Editor – news@savvygentsdev.com

(MENA) A new management team has been put into place and various renovations have taken shape into Mena’s only movie cinema on Friday, March 9th.

The Silver Screen, located at 1110 Pine Street in Mena, has seen the owner of the four year facility to spend approximately $1 million on renovations and other improvements, to handle the specifications required by the movie studios to show first – run movies.

Some of the additions include VIP sections in each cinema, a Bistro that can be rented for private parties. One other addition is “Crying Rooms” in which parents of small children can take a small child that may be upset over something and the parents can take that child to one of the two rooms and still enjoy the movie without leaving. The rooms are sound – proof, so that regular movie-goers will not hear the crying child in the cinema, thus providing a more pleasant experience for all.

Some other improvements include wider projection screens, an amazing surround sound system that emphasizes more bass sounds that makes you feel like you are there as the action is happening on screen. wider leather seats with cup holders, rope lighting along the aisles, and offering Sunday afternoon matinees.

The biggest change for cinema – goers is lower concession prices and bigger portions in food and drink options.

Leana Hobbs of Mena is the operator of the dual screen cinema and she is quite excited at the work that has transformed the building. The project has taken 18 months to complete.

Hobbs stated that she wants the cinema to return the ambience of being able to enjoy first – run movies, but also be able to enjoy seeing kids having fun in a safe atmosphere. Hobbs mentioned that some of the proudest things that she anticipates in the operation of the cinema is being more involved in the community, sponsoring events and doing more to help others in the Polk County region.

Hobbs said that having the cinema back open in Mena, saves people the drive to Ida Bell, Oklahoma or to Fort Smith, in order to catch a movie with family or friends.

With the commitment from the owner of the cinema, Greg Davis of Houston, Texas, Hobbs anticipates that it will be a fun and enjoyable experience for anyone that visits the two screen cinema.

Manager Ariel Barner is excited as well when showing the facility to well – wishers at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Barner stated that offering a partnership with Pizza Hut on providing slices or an entire pizza is being offered to movie customers. There will be specials offered for pizza, popcorn and drink or other offerings for nachos, hot dogs and candy.

Sunday matinees will have a childrens movie and an adult movie offered for five dollars, with a special price of $1 dollar on popcorn or hot dogs.

Barner also mentioned that special theme days is in the planning stages that could possibly include 50’s themed movies and possibly an 80’s era movie event.

Currently, Hobbs and Barner have a staff of seven employees that are mostly responsible high school students. Hobbs wants to make sure that the older teenagers in the area have an opportunity to be productive citizens and feel good about helping their friends and neighbors when visiting the cinema.

The cinema is open Thursday through Sunday. A single showing on Thursdays at 6pm. Two showings at 6pm and 8pm on Friday and Saturday, and then concluding with a matinee showings set for 3pm and 6pm on Sundays.

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