As the lights dim and the movie begins, visitors of the new O’neil Cinemas theater in Londonderry are greeted by a cozy setting and the inviting smell of pizzas and appetizers, creating an experience beyond the screen. Two weeks after opening, this movie theater is emerging as a community space with updated features and fresh energy.
O’neil Cinemas employee and sophomore Ava Cornett first applied for a job when she heard of the theater’s opening. After growing up in Londonderry, Cornett thought a role at the cinema would be “a great fit” for her, as she “just wanted to be a part of something bigger in my community.”
“I think the community has been really involved with the new theater,” she said. “It’s been a great way to bring new people in so far and is a great attraction overall. We’ve already had a lot of regulars come in, but also a ton of new people.”
As for the customer base, many amenities, which were not included in the AMC theater previously in that location, have drawn in a variety of people, especially families. Sophomore Grace McElroy grew up visiting the old theater, and found it “completely unrecognizable” when she walked into O’neils for the first time. From deluxe theaters to a wide array of food and drink options, McElroy said the cinema has “done a great job catering to different types of people.”
Deluxe “DLX” Theaters
For those willing to pay extra for a three-dimensional movie or deluxe experience, the cinema has two rooms specifically designed for premium movie watching: theaters eight and nine. According to Cornett, they “have been really popular because they are really nice seats to see a movie.”
Bars and Lounge
Just outside theaters eight and nine, is a mini bar which will soon open up to serve food and drinks. This bar, one of two in the building, will begin serving food once the kitchen opens within the next few weeks.
The second bar is in the lounge, serving beer, wine and other alcohol to customers over 21. This will also be part of the restaurant set up in the lounge area coming soon.
Food
When food other than popcorn and candy is available, customers will be provided with a variety of meal options in the lounge and other dining areas that stray from the normal snacks many other theaters provide. While Bartender Dan Moskwa now only greets customers and serves people seated at the bar, his other main job will soon consist of serving a variety of food to tables.
“A lot of the time, you go to theaters and they basically just have the same food,” Moskwa said. “It’s not just your basic wings and popcorn. We have alternate stuff on our menu.”
With advanced movie options and a wide array of food items, the cinema “stands out.” The cinema’s features are inspired by the other locations run by the same movie theater chain.
“O’neil Cinemas has owned other theaters around, so I think they kind of took what they learned from [those] and applied it to this one, including different things like the advanced concessions and dining experience,” Moskwa said.
The amenities are not the only aspects of the theater that make it prominent in the community. The team behind the screens welcome newcomers, helping to increase popularity and profit.
Between ushering, running food to customers, concessions and ticketing, Cornett recognizes the positive and social environment at the theater, as the workers have “been really welcoming and kind,” both to customers and each other. Another employee and usher, Carlton Philogene, describes how those working at the theater “communicate well and there are no negative vibes at all.”
With a strong group of workers, O’neil Cinemas theater is just getting started. Though the cinema has already grown popular in the past week with movies like “Wicked” and “Zootopia 2,” workers can attest that the success is only beginning.
“They’ve done [a great job] on this place and [it has] great new looks,” Moskwa said. “It’s just going to keep getting better.”
