Albemarle Place Goes to the Movies with Regal Cinemas & IMAX

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Edens & Avant announces that Albemarle Place will soon be home to a new Regal Cinemas and the only IMAX® theatre in Charlottesville.  Opening in fall 2012, the new cinema will feature state-of-the-art digital technology and 14 screens making it the largest cinema within a 60 mile radius of Charlottesville, Virginia. Albemarle Place is a 65-acre development at the intersection of Route 29 and Hydraulic Road.

The new Regal Cinemas will be part of the first phase of a new town center by Edens & Avant that will feature a pedestrian-friendly environment with a mix of national and local retailers, an eclectic collection of restaurants, a leading grocer, and a hotel. The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved zoning and proffer changes on August 4, 2010, allowing Edens & Avant to begin work on the first phase of the development.

"We believe our loyal patrons in Charlottesville will be impressed with this first-class cinema including the immersive IMAX premium experience," said Dick Westerling, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Regal Entertainment Group. "Regal is confident that the Seminole Trail intersection with Hydraulic Road is the very best location for an entertainment destination that will attract patrons from across the region. We couldn't be more pleased to be part of Albemarle Place.  Regal has invested in the Charlottesville community for years, first with construction of the Downtown Mall 6 and continuing through our partnership with the prestigious Virginia Film Festival also located in the heart of the city."

The Charlottesville community currently has two Regal Cinemas—a 6-screen venue on the downtown mall and a 4-screen location across Route 29 from the Albemarle Place site. Regal previously announced expansion of the 4-screen but has now determined that building new at Albemarle Place will offer moviegoers the very best entertainment experience.

As a major attraction of the Albemarle Place development, Regal Cinemas will be located on a plaza that fronts the town center's new Main Street. The plaza will include Regal's box office, pedestrian walkways, seating for outdoor dining and open space for community events.

"In searching for the ideal entertainment venue for Albemarle Place, this new Regal Cinemas offers an exciting, state-of-the-art movie-going experience for Charlottesville residents," said Steve Boyle, Managing Director for Edens & Avant. "Along with offering the most current theatrical releases, Regal will also complement our restaurant and retail offerings, providing local residents with an unparalleled entertainment and shopping experience as well as a unique new gathering place for the local community."

IMAX digital projection systems showcase Hollywood blockbusters that have been digitally re-mastered into the unique image and sound quality of "The IMAX Experience," making audiences feel as if they are IN the movie. Regal IMAX Theatres take the experience one step further by offering IMAX® 3D. This immersive experience is made possible by a combination of IMAX's powerful 3D projection system – which simultaneously projects two separate images onto the IMAX screen – and polarized IMAX 3D glasses that audience members wear to fuse the two images into a single three-dimensional motion picture.

About Edens & Avant

Edens & Avant develops, owns and operates neighborhood shopping places in primary markets throughout the East Coast, including 36 retail centers in the Washington DC larger metropolitan area. Focusing on retail in major metro areas, the Company has built a portfolio of more than 128 retail centers in 15 states. Edens & Avant has Regional Headquarters in Boston, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami and Columbia, SC. For additional information about the Company and its retail real estate portfolio, please visit www.edensandavant.com.

SOURCE Edens & Avant