Business & Tech

Cinépolis Punches Its First Five Tickets in RSM

Rancho Santa Margarita's planning commission unanimously grants the theater chain—the fourth-largest in the world—a conditional use permit to operate in the Edwards Theater space.

The Edwards theater sat empty, its neon lights inside still aglow, while planning commissioners—sitting in Rancho Santa Margarita City Council chambers across the street—last week nodded their approval for the movie house's fate.

The theater space will get every chance to spring back to life in luxury as the burgeoning Cinépolis theater empire reaches into the United States. 

Chairman Peter Whittingham listened to the comments of his four colleagues and didn't even call for a vote after former chair Jack Leonard made a motion and vice chair Brad McGirr seconded that the world's fourth-largest theater chain receive its conditional use permit to redesign the space formerly occupied by the Edwards Cinemas 6.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"Any objections," Whittingham asked. "If not, the project is approved. Congratulations—we can't wait 'til the summer."

Cinepolis was met with an approval on par with BJ's Restaurant as the five chairmen clearly recognized the opportunity to allow a theater with big plans—and employing a hundred people—take over a space and replace a tenant that had seemingly run out of enthusiasm.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The primary questioning for Cinepolis managing director Carlos Wellman involved the sale of alcohol and making sure that language appeared that stipulated no alcohol was to be sold for off-site consumption.

"We're not a convenience store," Wellman said.

Other than that, easy.

That paves the way for or fifth theater in the U.S. for the Mexico-based company. It is expected to open by the end of the summer, though opening for the July 4 weekend would be a bonus.

"We were looking for a concept just like Cinepolis. Edwards was a great tenant, I'm not disparaging them at all, we just needed something fresh," said Martin Hannigan, the owner of the property who added, "We've been working on this for over a year."

The RSM facility will be the second in Orange County; there is one being that will get the jump on it. The first theater has operated for seven months in Del Mar.

The Cinepolis CUP was the primary business of the Feb. 1 meeting.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here