Grand opening of new cinema center at The Oaks is delayed again

Moviegoers will have to wait a little bit longer for stadium movie seating in Thousand Oaks as the opening date of the Muvico theaters at The Oaks mall has been postponed again.

The 14-auditorium theater complex that was going to open tomorrow, Feb. 6, is now scheduled to start showing movies on Fri, Feb. 27, said Jodi Pine, Muvico spokesperson.

Pine didn't give a reason for the delay or say if the later opening was connected to a fire at the theater on Jan. 11.

That Sunday afternoon, firefighters responded with five engines and two ladder trucks to a blaze that had ignited four rows of seating at one of the theaters under construction. No injuries were reported, but there was heavy smoke damage, a Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The theaters, built with a Parisian theme, will feature walltowall, floor-to-ceiling curved screens and Sony digital technology sound and projection. A Bogart's restaurant and a full bar will be on the upper level.

Four Premier theaters—for those 21 and older—will offer valet parking, free popcorn and 74-inch loveseats. Appetizers and alcoholic beverages from the restaurant and bar will be permitted inside the theater.

Redevelopment of The Oaks mall began in 2007. Improvements include a Southern California Spanish-revival-style look, with a new food court, new restrooms, an outdoor dining patio and a multilevel parking deck. A Nordstrom department store opened before Christmas. Many of the outside expansion stores are also open.

The Oaks mall is a 1millionsquare-foot regional shopping center off the 101 Freeway in Thousand Oaks. The Oaks features Macy's Women's; Macy's Men's, Children's and Home; J.C. Penney; Nordstrom; The Cheesecake Factory; and Sisley Italian Kitchen. Upon completion The Oaks will include more than 170 specialty stores.

For more information, visit www.ShopTheOaksMall.com.