What happened to this project?
Dinner and a movie takes on new meaning at Union Station
By Linda Tucci
04/06/2004
Cinema Grill, a national operator out of Atlanta, is bringing a novel bill of fare to all 10 screens just in time for the summer blockbuster season.
Rather than row upon row of seats, every third seat in the Cinema Grill theaters will be a table. And rather than the usual popcorn and candy snacks, moviegoers will be able to nosh while they watch on a full menu of freshly prepared appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts from a restaurant in the lobby. And cry in their beers. Microbeer and wine will be available too.
"This is a deal we're really excited about," says Steve Miller, longtime manager for the festival mall. "Union Station has always done better when it could offer unique operations. Hopefully, people will get over their misconceptions about downtown and give us a try." Parking - the perennial complaint about Union Station - will be validated for the first 2 1/2 hours.
But Cinema Grill is not relying solely on suburban dwellers to keep the marquee lit up. One of the big factors in the company's coming to St. Louis was downtown's growing population, said Mark Cone, director of operations for Cinema Grill. At least two of the 10 screens will be devoted to art films, in a nod to the urbanites' urbane tastes.
Loft developers are not surprised. "I've been saying this for a long time - if we concentrate on the residential development downtown, the retail will follow," says Craig Heller, who recently announced opening a full-service grocery to his Bell Lofts building on Olive.
Dinner and a movie takes on new meaning at Union Station
By Linda Tucci
04/06/2004
Cinema Grill, a national operator out of Atlanta, is bringing a novel bill of fare to all 10 screens just in time for the summer blockbuster season.
Rather than row upon row of seats, every third seat in the Cinema Grill theaters will be a table. And rather than the usual popcorn and candy snacks, moviegoers will be able to nosh while they watch on a full menu of freshly prepared appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts from a restaurant in the lobby. And cry in their beers. Microbeer and wine will be available too.
"This is a deal we're really excited about," says Steve Miller, longtime manager for the festival mall. "Union Station has always done better when it could offer unique operations. Hopefully, people will get over their misconceptions about downtown and give us a try." Parking - the perennial complaint about Union Station - will be validated for the first 2 1/2 hours.
But Cinema Grill is not relying solely on suburban dwellers to keep the marquee lit up. One of the big factors in the company's coming to St. Louis was downtown's growing population, said Mark Cone, director of operations for Cinema Grill. At least two of the 10 screens will be devoted to art films, in a nod to the urbanites' urbane tastes.
Loft developers are not surprised. "I've been saying this for a long time - if we concentrate on the residential development downtown, the retail will follow," says Craig Heller, who recently announced opening a full-service grocery to his Bell Lofts building on Olive.
