Theater in Wildwood scheduled to be completed next spring

A progressive, grandeur type of new movie theater is coming to West County, but B&B Theatre's future Wildwood Cinema 10 likely will not be ready until next May.

"We've been working through plans, waiting for building permits, and getting all of the finances in order," said Dennis McIntire, director of strategic planning for B&B Theatres, based in Liberty, Mo. "We're getting really close on all fronts, and just about ready to tip over into the next phase."

McIntire said it sometimes takes longer than expected to finish due diligence on all elements of the process.

"We hope to have a groundbreaking ceremony at the site this winter, though," McIntire said.

B&B Theatres manages 200 movie screens within 34 theaters in four states, including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Florida in addition to Missouri. 

"The art-deco'ness of Wildwood's planned theater is the only one of its kinds that we will have,” McIntire said. “It will be our most expansive on the inside and out."

Located in Wildwood’s Town Center, the theater will be the first in the St. Louis area with all-digital projection. In fact, all 10 auditoriums are planned to have digital presentation. The location also will be the first theater in Missouri, and one of the first in the world, to be built without a projection booth, McIntire said. 

He said the theater also will have 3-D capabilities. Two, plush 'VIP' auditoriums that will be called “The Marquee” are anticipated. They will feature reclining seats and a large selection of alternative food and drinks.

All of the auditoriums will have stadium seating, wall-to-wall curved screens, rocking seats, and DTS surround sound. The largest auditorium will boast a 55-foot wide screen.  

The Wildwood City Council on Nov. 9 voted to approve, in concept, an artistic application designed for the public space requirements for the external property of the new theater. It will be a set of three water features set high on columns, placed strategically at different points of the corner entrance.

Joe Vujnich, Wildwood’s director of planning and parks, said that agreed-upon art features are part of the city's site-specific ordinances for developers. 

"The developer, working through Planning and Zoning, presented a number of options," Vujnich said. "We ultimately all ended up agreeing that a water feature would be best."

Each capstone water fixture will sit on top of a column, with re-circulating water completing the effect. Vujnich said the proposed artistic execution will coordinate with the planned garden wall, materials, colors and features of the main building.

"We believe this is a suitable type of art for this highly visible location," Vujnich added.

One caveat is that staff and the City Council agreed that color samples and sample materials be reviewed before the pieces are finalized. 

Wildwood City Councilmember Patricia Thibeault (ward 1) also asked who would be responsible for maintaining the fountains. Vujnich said the city becomes responsible for the artistic pieces once they have been dedicated.

Because B&B Theaters is a family-owned and operated business, they are more than enthused about the new Wildwood development, McIntire said.

"We have long believed this market is underserved when it comes to movie theaters, and are eager to bring this great facility to movie-goers in the area," McIntire said.