Nov. 2, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LUXURY THEATRE TO OFFER
REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT ON GRAND SCALE
Laham, Ritchie & Warren Team Up
for Retail/Entertainment Development
(Wichita, KS) – As movie-goers continue
to demand premium amenities and technology, local businessman Bill Warren
and developers George Laham and Ritchie Associates,
have announced plans for a new development that promises to elevate the
region’s entertainment experience to an all-time high.
Ground will be broken early next year at 13th
Street & Greenwich Road for Plazzio, a 347,000-sq.-ft. retail/entertainment complex featuring
a lavish 12-screen Warren Theatre. The announcement was made today
by Melissa Cohlmia, Laham Development Company spokesperson, who
projected a December 2001 opening for the theatre.
Situated on a spacious 60-acre site overlooking
K-96 highway, Plazzio will feature Art Deco-inspired architecture,
landscaped green space, and the same attention to exceptional quality
and detail for which Laham, Ritchie and Warren have gained renown.
Warren Theatre at Plazzio:
Luxury & Presentation Rise
to A New Level
Whether you're ascending the staircase to the balcony of the 725-seat
Grand Auditorium, or attending a meeting in one of the private
presentation theatres,
it's clear: Warren Theatre at Plazzio will revolutionize area movie-going and
entertainment.
The 77,000-sq.-ft. theatre multiplex will offer
12 auditoriums with theatre seating from 215 - 725 patrons each.
Featuring the largest screens in the state, and among the largest
in the country, auditoriums will have wall-to-wall screens up to
75-feet wide compared to Wichita's typical 30-foot screen. With
an oversize lobby and concession island, the theatre will feature
more than 20 tons of imported marble and granite, terrazzo floors,
gold leaf accents, custom-made waterfall draperies and miles of
colorful neon displays. According to Bill Warren, "Warren Theatre
at Plazzio will be a magnificent tribute to the 'Glory Days' of
cinema. We have spared no expense in designing the theatre for
patron comfort, convenience and a memorable entertainment experience."
All of the 3,000 - plus custom-made seats will
be high-backed for maximum head support, with extra wide cushions,
extra legroom and individual cupholders. Each auditorium will be
equipped with George Lucas-designed THX sound system. Patrons also
will appreciate a romantic touch - liftable arm rests that make
handholding more comfortable. Parents of small children will enjoy
the added convenience of an in-house nursery and cry room attached
to some auditoriums. A patrons-only high tech game room will be
located off the lobby. Even the restrooms have been carefully designed
with the common area featuring a fireplace lounge where
moviegoers can meet and visit with friends in relaxed, comfortable surroundings.
The new Warren Theatre will offer more exclusive
entertainment options. A membership-only Club Plazzio will feature
a 100-seat luxury lounge/auditorium with leather seats and tables,
tableside food service, private entrance and restrooms, telephones
at each table, valet parking, and coat check, all available for
an annual fee. Open for lunch and dinner, Club Plazzio will also
offer members state-of-the-art technology for PowerPoint and audio-visual
presentations. "Club Plazzio will be an exceptional setting for
business meetings, receptions and private parties," says Warren.
In addition to the private club, a lounge/auditorium open to the
public will be equipped with PowerPoint technology and food service.
It will be also be offered for private rental.
"Wichita-area patrons have been demanding a more
luxurious movie-going experience," said Warren, whose Palace theatres
and Warren Theatre in northwest Wichita began their reinvention
of movie entertainment in the late 1980s. "This brings luxury and
presentation to a new level in this part of the country."
Plazzio Retail Development Debuts
Urban Entertainment Center Concept in Wichita
In addition to the theatre, the 270,000-sq.-ft. Plazzio center will introduce
Wichitans to one of the hottest concepts in retail development – the urban
entertainment center. Blending innovative retail, destination dining and premium
entertainment offerings, Plazzio will offer area residents and
visitors to the city more leisure time options that are both creative and
affordable. According to Cohlmia, “This is a concept found in markets much
larger than Wichita. Plazzio will combine the convenience of a neighborhood
center with the appeal of a regional attraction. Like Bradley Fair, it will
be unique to this area and something Wichitans will be very proud of.”
With the near completion of Laham’s 255,000 – sq. ft. Bradley Fair,
and the migration of national retailers to 21st & Rock
Road in recent years, Plazzio’s 13th & Greenwich location provides a new focal point for commercial growth. “Plazzio
offers an exciting new venue that will allow Wichita to continue to grow and
attract fresh new retail and restaurants,” says Cohlmia. “Its proximity to
the highway and upscale residential developments such as Crestview, Rocky Creek,
Savannah, White Tail, Belle Terre and Andover will make this site a magnet
for new entries to the market.”
Both Warren and Laham have a reputation for keen
insight in reading consumer trends. Warren is credited with introducing
Wichitans to a variety of first-time theatre experiences, including
second run film showings, discount admission, George Lucas THX
sound, and high-design, posh furnishings. Laham’s Bradley Fair
at Wilson Estates development has brought a diversity of retail’s
most coveted and unique lifestyle retailers to Wichita. Both developers
have a proven track record for generating a thriving commerce wherever
they land.
Key Construction Company is the general contractor
for the Warren Theatre at Plazzio. Farha Construction is the general
contractor for the Plazzio center. Spangenberg Phillips is the
architect for both projects. Financing for Warren at Plazzio is
provided by Intrust Bank. Exclusive leasing agent for the center
is J.P. Weigand & Sons. All are Wichita companies. |
