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West Valley City • A Megaplex theater is coming to Valley Fair Mall, the seventh in the chain, and is slated to open next fall in time for the final movie of the "Twilight" series.
Gail Miller, chairwoman of the board for the Larry H. Miller Group, made the announcement Tuesday night at Valley Fair's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
The 15-screen theater will be built on the site of the now vacant Mervyn's department store at the mall, 3601 S. 2700 West. Construction will begin after the holidays with the demolition of the building, according to Blake Andersen, senior vice president of the Utah-based Megaplex Theatres chain.
"Our studies show they're ready for a Megaplex out there," Andersen said. "Our goal is to be open for the final movie of the 'Twilight' saga."
The national launch of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2" is set for Nov. 16, 2012.
The facility, which will have reserved stadium seating, will cover 112,000 square feet and accommodate about 2,700 moviegoers. It will have the same amenities as the other Megaplex locations: Digital projection, an IMAX theater, D-BOX motion seating in one auditorium, a full-service food court with Coke Freestyle soda machines, and a "Director's Suite" reception hall.
Eateries at the food court will include Snappy's Burgers, Fries & Shakes; Mayan Express Mexican Food; Main Street Deli Salads, Sandwiches & Wraps; Bon Bon Gelato and Ice Cream; and Snack Zone Popcorn and Movie Treats.
The Cinemark Valley Fair 9 near the Megaplex has a few years left on its lease and will remain, mall general manager Jonny Arbuckle said. He predicts that traffic brought to the mall by the bigger theater will benefit Valley Fair 9, a second-run discount theater.
"We're confident they'll be able to co-exist," Arbuckle said.
The Megaplex theater will be part of the latest round of work that is expected to complete a major renovation and expansion of Valley Fair. At the completion of the $40 million remodeling, the mall — which now has about 120 stores, restaurants and services — will have a footprint of more than 1 million square feet.
In a meeting after the tree lighting ceremony, West Valley City Council members voted unanimously to put $5 million in redevelopment money toward the mall renovation. Economic development staffers estimate that the work will increase annual sales at the shopping center by $50 million to $70 million and put an additional $560,000 of tax money a year in city coffers. The redevelopment dollars would help with building acquisition, demolition and infrastructure improvements.
Reporter Sean P. Means contributed to this article.
pmanson@sltrib.comTwitter: @PamelaMansonSLC —
Megaplex Theatres
The chain, founded by the late Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, has six theaters on the Wasatch Front. They are located at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Gateway in Salt Lake City, Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, The Junction in Ogden, Legacy Crossing in Centerville, and The District in South Jordan.