Stadium seating cineplex coming to The Oaks
By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

Marilyn Monroe's hand and footprints won't be embedded in the cement out front, but neither will Joe Bob's big head block the view of the movie screen.

Mann Theater, owner of what was Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, is opening the city's first stadium-seating theater in The Oaks mall--a 14-screen theater with state-of-the-art technology and balcony viewing.

The new theater will be part of the mall's open-air section expected to be ready in fall 2008.

Movie patrons can expect more than hot dogs, popcorn and soda. Concessions at the new cinema center will include a bar menu and sushi.

Unique to The Oaks mall venue will be the theater's VIP accommodations, which will include private entry balcony viewing with an exclusive lounge and bar. The bar will offer beer and wine. Only those 21 or older will be permitted in the lounge.

To be a VIP, movie patrons must pay extra for their tickets, said Nicole Flynn, senior marketing manager for the mall.

Those who choose to be VIPs will get extra attention along with more luxurious and larger chairs, Flynn said.

"It's a wonderful match for our customers," Flynn said. "It's cutting edge--very exciting."

The cinema center is being built in response to the community's desire for a new state-of-the-art theater, according to Randy Brant, senior vice president of development leasing for Macerich, The Oaks' parent company.

Brant noted the company is delighted The Oaks mall will be the setting for Mann Theaters' newest concepts.

"When we looked at the possibilities for The Oaks, we asked the community what they would like to see at the center," said senior property manager Julia Ladd. "Nordstrom and a new movie theater were among the top requests."

The plan is to bring back the sophistication once felt at movie theaters, Brant said.

"Enjoying a film is as much about the experience--the setting, the amenities, the technology--as it is about the craftsmanship and story depicted on the screen," said Mann Theatres CEO Peter Dobson.

In a Nutshell

The Oaks mall is a 1.1-million-square-foot regional shopping center off the 101 Freeway in Thousand Oaks. The shopping center features Macy's Women; Macy's Men, Home & Children; JCPenney; Nordstrom (slated to open fall 2008) and more than 130 specialty stores. For more information, visit www.ShoptheOaksMall.com.