Can't wait to see The Hobbit on the big screen? Here's something to hold you over. Patch went inside the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in Rancho Santa Margarita, and it's a far cry from the old Edwards Cinema Six that it replaced.
High-end finishes reminiscent of a Beverly Hills hotel are the hallmark of the theater, which is scheduled to open on Dec. 14, just in time for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
The construction of Cinepolis and the courtyard in front of it has provided the Mexico-based theater chain—the fourth-largest in the world—with its own unexpected journey. The original finish date was supposed to be Sept. 1, and it kept getting pushed back, mostly because the outdoor area wasn't ready.
Crews of about 15 to 20 will begin working 10 hours a day six days a week next to get the courtyard ready for the opening, though some landscaping probably won't get done until after Dec. 14.
The theater will employ 80 to 100 people, and those interested in applying for jobs can do so on the company website at CinepolisUSA.com.
The Rancho Santa Margarita Cinepolis will be the company's fifth to open in the United States; others are in La Costa, Del Mar, Laguna Niguel and Westlake Village.
The interior of the 30,960 square foot building has been done for about a month. It features granite and marble tile and several big-screen televisions, a bar, and dining areas in the lobby, upstairs and outside.
The six theaters will hold 480 customers in oversized reclining leather chairs; the original plan called for seating for 488.
So while you're waiting on The Hobbit, check out the photos of Cinepolis.
What clowns decided to get rid of Regal Cinemas that had faithfully served the RSM community for so many years? Regal provided the community with a good family friendly local movie theater - now we have to go to Foothill Ranch if we want to see a movie. That's not going to change when (or if) Cinepolis ever opens their doors. Bring back family-friendly businesses, like Regal Cinemas. We don't need no sticken' over-priced "luxury theaters" that sells stale nachos.