Phoenix Theatres - WKTV Journal

Early renovation work at Phoenix Theatres, the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)

By Philip Janowski, WKTV Contributing Writer

Old and new marquee sign at Phoenix Theatres, the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)

High-quality moviegoing experiences — in sight, sound and all-reclining seats — will soon be coming to Woodland Mall as Phoenix Theatres has announced it will be opening its planned 14-screen complex on the mall’s south side in April.

The recently installed vertical marquee, spelling out PHOENIX, is sure to show moviegoers the way.

Phoenix Theatres owner Cory Jacobson, right, and local executive Jordan Hohman, in front of the new marque at the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

The marquee, composed of more than 200 light bulbs, was designed with a classical 1920s and ’30s style in homage to the Chicago Theatre, Jordan Hohman, local executive, recently told WKTV during a backstage tour. The building overall carries a refined art deco style that makes “going to the movies” special again, honoring “tradition” while still providing a “new, modern experience.”

“The theatre can’t just be a ‘box’. You really have to have some character, a face to this business,” Cory Jacobson, owner of Phoenix Theatres, said.

The location is expected to open to the general public Thursday, April 14, after special opening events early that week.

Nearly complete renovation work at Phoenix Theatres, the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (Supplied)

Construction is progressing rapidly, with carpeting almost completely fitted and reclining seats added on the daily. At the location there will be four large, three mid-sized, and seven small auditoriums. And, management says, those 14 screens at this location will be the most screens of any Phoenix Theatres location, and will be the 50th screen of the Michigan-based company.

“Like celebrating a fiftieth wedding anniversary,” Jacobson said.

Phoenix Theatres will screen films utilizing the powerful Dolby Atmos sound system, making for some of the highest cinema sound quality in the country, Hohman said.

Phoenix Theatres local executive Jordan Hohman checks out a newly installed camera at the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (WKTV/Philip Janowski)

From above, numerous speakers shape sound moving throughout the room. Below, subwoofer speakers in every seat bring the frequency of film audio directly to your chair. This extensive, detailed sound system makes Dolby Atmos the doorway to “improved immersion in films,” Hohman said.

Jacobson actually told a story that Douglas Trumbull, the famous photographic effects supervisor for the classic “2001: A Space Odyssey”, said Phoenix provided the best presentation of the film he had ever seen — and heard — in 50 years.

To promote its new place in the community the theatre is planning to have a ticket giveaway, which can be entered on the company website. First prize is a VIP ticket giving admission to 52 films in the first year, followed by second and third place prizes as well.

Phoenix management is also reaching out to news media and holding press conferences, to make a big initial spash.

When it comes to a grand opening, “You only get one bite at the apple,” Hohman said.

Phoenix Theatres owner Cory Jacobson, left, and local executive Jordan Hohman, check out newly installed seats at the soon-to-(re)open movie house at Woodland Mall. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

Phoenix Theatres also plan to offer unique experiences through Fathom Events, including Turner Classic Movie showings, anniversary films like celebration of the classic “Casablanca” on its 80th anniversary, and live showings from the Metropolitan Opera.

Fathom is a good chance for many to “explore an interest in operatic shows that would otherwise be difficult to access,” Hohman said. Large sports games and other “live events” may also be shown.

The lobby will include self-serve drinks for faster service, as well as a new lounge with a grand piano. Additionally, the halls are to be lined with photographs of historic local theatres.

Despite advanced sound and video systems, and a retro aesthetic, Phoenix Theatres will carry “friendly” film prices.

“You shouldn’t have to pick between a trip to the movies or a trip out of town,” Hohman said.

For more information visit Phoenix Theatres’ website at phoenixmovies.net.

Phoenix Theatres will be relaunching movie theater operation at Woodland Mall, as early as this fall. (Supplied graphic)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

At a special announcement at Woodland Mall this week, new mall movie-theater tenant Phoenix Theaters’ management team made clear that “big company” high-tech visuals, solid sound and premium seats will be the standard when the mall’s theater building reopens as early as this fall.

But Phoenix Theatres CEO Cory Jacobson also made clear to the small crowd at the mall Tuesday, July 27, that, in his “small” movie-theater company, families come first at Phoenix and in its theaters, and COO John Scanlan, talking to WKTV, made clear that Phoenix’s nimble “small” company structure is one of the reasons they were able to take advantage of the Woodland Mall opportunity.

Phoenix Theatres CEO Cory Jacobson. (WKTV)

The company is a 21-year-old independently owned movie theatre company that plans to invest $4 million to refurbish the 14-screen theatre, according to supplied material, a project which will expand a company which operates several theaters in Southeast Michigan as well as one each in Iowa and Massachusetts.

It is also a company which prides itself on having employees who have worked their way up from taking tickets and popping popcorn, to top-level management.

“All these people have something in common. They have all worked for our company for many, many years,” Jacobson said as he introduced his management team to the crowd at Woodland Mall. “All of the senior staff started out popping popcorn, ripping tickets, selling concession items.”

After Jacobson and others of the management team talked to the Woodland Mall crowd about his company’s “family” outlook, and his theaters’ amenities including plush twin seats that can be opened up for customer “families,” Scanlan also talked to WKTV about how being a now-not-so-small family-owned company allowed it to move quickly when the Woodland Mall opportunity presented itself. (See complete discussion in video below.)

“We are still nimble enough to pivot, and move, and we all work so closely together that we are able to make these decision fairly quickly,” Scanlon said. “We have one owner (Cory Jacobson), we do not have to worry about having a group thought. … Cory can make decisions on the fly and that allows us to make decisions on the fly as well.”

Phoenix Theatres Woodland Mall outside view. (Supplied graphic)

Phoenix Theatres at Woodland Mall is the first major post-pandemic theatre investment in West Michigan, “signaling renewed confidence in the strength of this property and the regional economy,” according to PREIT, the mall’s parent company.

For Phoenix Theatres CEO Jacobson, the Woodland Mall expansion just felt right from the moment he first visited.

“Phoenix Theatres has always been a neighborhood theatre company, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” Jacobson said in supplied material. “After spending several weeks exploring the city, we felt very much at home in the culture of the community. Movie theatres are places where people come together to enjoy themselves. Creating an environment that celebrates community has always been our highest goal.”

After the renovations at the Woodland Mall location, the theater will be a 14-screen theatre within the 47,000-square-foot building, and will feature all-new premium reclining heated seating, 4K digital projection, Dolby Atmos, first-run movies and “family-friendly pricing.”