AMC Theatres will open a 10-screen cinema at the former Clearview cineplex at Headquarters Plaza in Morristown, the company announced today.
The theaters, which closed over the summer, leaving Morristown without a movie house for the first time since 1911, will reopen within a month, according to the statement. AMC had operated the complex back in the 1980s.
Improved projection facilities and concession operations are promised. Here is the full announcement:
AMC THEATRES® TO OPEN 10-SCREEN CINEMA AT
HEADQUARTERS PLAZA IN MORRISTOWN, NJ
Original Operator of Movie Theatre Space Returns With Long-Term Lease; Plans Renovations
MORRISTOWN, NJ, Sept. 12, 2013 – Officials from Headquarters Plaza, the Class A commercial complex in downtown Morristown, today announced that AMC Theatres has signed a long-term lease to bring a 10-screen cinema back to Morristown.
AMC Theatres will occupy the 40,000 square-foot movie theatre space within Headquarters Plaza that was previously controlled by Clearview Cinemas (now Bow Tie Cinemas), which closed its Morristown location at the end of June. AMC, which originally operated the theater when Headquarters Plaza was first opened, prior to Clearview Cinemas, has begun recruiting staff, will begin operating the cinema within the next 30 days and has plans for extensive renovations during the next nine months that will modernize the facility, giving guests an unparalleled experience.
“We are very pleased to welcome AMC Theatres back to Headquarters Plaza and the Town of Morristown,” said Seth Schochet, Vice President of the Commercial Division of The Olnick Organization, which developed Headquarters Plaza in partnership with Fisher Development Associates. “Morristown residents, visitors and the area’s significant daily workforce have loyally relied on this location for their movie-going experience for decades. This lease agreement ensures that tradition will continue for years to come.”
Bringing a movie theatre back to Morristown was a high priority for the Headquarters Plaza management team, according to Brian Fisher, a principal at Fisher Development Associates.
“Our team worked diligently to bring back this important component of Morristown’s social and entertainment fabric as quickly as possible, but with an improved guest experience,” Mr. Fisher said. “AMC Theatres will be a welcome addition to Morristown, and another example of our unwavering commitment to providing a modern, amenity-rich environment for our Headquarters Plaza tenants that also benefits the community at large.”
Renovations planned for the 10-screen theatre include plush power recliners, a revamped concession area that includes hot foods such as mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, French fries and pizza, Coca-Cola Freestyle machines and state-of-the-art presentation equipment, such as new movie screens, new speakers and 100 percent digital projectors. The improvements will be completed in phases, allowing the theatre to remain open during the work.
“As a community we are thrilled with this announcement,” said Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty. “I know it’s been on the mind of many residents that we want to get our theatre back. I spoke with Headquarters Plaza management and had full faith they would negotiate with different entities in the movie theatre industry to get this done. I’m glad to hear that they now have a contract in place and I look forward to any renovations they have planned for our new theatre in downtown Morristown.”
About Headquarters Plaza
Situated just steps from the Morristown Green and the Morris County courthouse in the heart of the historic town’s shopping and dining district, Headquarters Plaza offers 750,000 square feet of commercial, office and retail space. The complex is home to several Fortune 500 corporations, including renowned law firm Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Peretti LLP, Onsite tenant and public amenities and services include gourmet restaurants; full-time corporate concierge; a 41,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center; a wellness facility; Hertz rental car service, modern attended lobbies; 24-hour security and a secured parking garage with 3,000 covered spaces. The premier Hyatt Morristown Hotel and Conference Center features 256 rooms, more than 31,000 square-feet of meeting space, and the Qube Lounge, Starbucks and Eclectic Grill restaurant.
Headquarters Plaza is located just 25 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport and is easily accessible from major highways such as Route 287, Route 202 and Route 10, and mass transportation options, including NJ Transit’s Morristown Train Station, with service to Manhattan.
