Criterion Cinemas in Blue Back Square in West Hartford has changed hands, from the Ridgefield-based Bow Tie Cinemas chain to the fast-growing Cinépolis USA chain, along with four other Bow Tie properties in New Jersey and New York City, a Cinépolis USA spokeswoman told The Courant.
April Mendoza, Cinépolis USA’s vice president of sales and marketing, said Cinépolis USA “went live” with five acquired properties on Wednesday: in West Hartford, Roxbury Township, Parsippany, N.J, and Hackettstown, N.J.; and Chelsea in New York City.
“West Hartford is a fantastic location. When we knew it was available to us, we definitely wanted to snatch it up,” Mendoza said. She would not comment about if Cinépolis USA is looking to acquire other theaters in Connecticut.
Messages left with Bow Tie were not answered by press time. Bow Tie still operates 10 multiplexes in the state: in Hartford, Trumbull, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Haven, South Norwalk, Westport, Wilton and two in Stamford.
Criterion Blue Back is the first Cinépolis theater in Connecticut. Another Cinépolis complex is on the way in Bridgeport. It will be a 12-screen, 50,000-square-feet, 1,200-seat Cinépolis complex in the second phase of the 54-acre Steelpointe Harbor development, whose first phase was unveiled late last year. Douglas Jerum of Ferrara Jerum International, the exclusive leasing consultant for Steelpointe Harbor, told The Courant that ground should be broken on the Bridgeport cinema complex next year, for a grand opening in late 2017 or early 2018.
Cinépolis USA is based in Addison, Texas, and its parent company, Cinépolis, is based in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
The Cinépolis website, www.cinepolisusa.com, states “Cinépolis USA plans for healthy expansion throughout the country for years to come. We are focusing on six major areas of the country, including Southern California, Northern California, Florida, Texas, the Mid-West and the Northeastern corridor.”
Cinépolis is the world’s fourth-largest cinema chain, behind Wanda (AMC, Hoyts, etc.), Regal and Cinemark. The chain operates 544 cinema complexes in Central and South America, India, the United States, Mexico and Spain. It entered the U.S. market in 2011 and currently operates seven complexes in Southern California and four in Florida, in addition to this week’s acquisitions.
One of Cinépolis’ selling points is its luxurious amenities. Many but not all of its theaters offer “at-your-seat waiter service, reclining seats, gourmet appetizers and entrees” and a full bar including a private-label sauvignon blanc and cabernet, according to the website.
Mendoza, who plans to visit West Hartford next week, would not comment on whether any structural or amenity changes will take place in Blue Back Square.
Criterion Cinemas opened in November 2007, when Blue Back Square made its debut.
