Carmike planning 12 screens in Bradley

In the biggest expansion to Bradley Square Mall in at least a decade, a 12-screen movie theater is in the works for the Cleveland, Tenn., shopping center.

Columbus, Ga.-based Carmike Cinemas on Thursday unveiled plans to open the 2,000-seat theater in about a year.

"We think it's a key location in Cleveland," said Terrell Mayton, Carmike's marketing director. "It's a regional draw."

Mayton said that one of the auditoriums in the theater will feature Carmike's "BIGD" format.

He said that auditorium will feature a larger-than-typical screen that's three stories tall and about 65 feet wide. The "BIGD" site also will feature enhanced sound and projection quality as well as high-back leather seats, Mayton said.

Stacia Shahan, the mall's general manager, said the 45,000-square-foot theater will be the largest expansion at the mall since 1998 when Kmart added on to the center built in 1991.

"We're super-excited," she said.

Shahan said a company in 2007 started work on a movie theater at the 511,777-square-foot mall, but the recession stopped the project. She said Carmike is expected to put the new theater on a building pad that was cleared for the original movie house.

The mall general manager said Morrison Cos. of Baton Rouge, La., bought the mall last December and put together a plan to upgrade the shopping center.

"Bringing the theater was step one," she said. "The addition of Carmike is a significant component of a major redevelopment we have planned for Bradley Square."

Further details on the mall's plan will be announced later, Shahan said.

Carmike Chief Executive Officer David Passman said in a statement the theater company is providing "the ultimate entertainment experience that centerpieces large format digital with bigger screens, bigger sound and luxurious theater seating."

Two years ago, Carmike opened a 12-screen theater in downtown Chattanooga, the Majestic 12, to replace its former Bijou theater.

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