(WXYZ) — Phoenix Theatres announced Thursday plans for how they will reopen, hopefully by July 1, according to the company.
The chainw hich was founded in southeast Michigan 20 years ago, has been closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our management group has spent the past few months working on developing a comprehensive plan with CDC guidance to carefully re-open our theatres,” Phoenix Theatres Owner Cory Jacobson said. “We are hopeful that all of our locations will be able to open by July 1st to support the return of Hollywood’s summer blockbuster movies to the big screen.”
With locations also in Iowa and Massachusetts, the company is using the time to train staff on new protocols and ticketing systems.
The theatre has incorporated CDC and local government standards for its reopning plan, and has worked with the National Association of Theatre Owners.
The new safety protocols include:
- We will have social distancing guidelines in all the common areas and most importantly in the theatre auditoriums. The seating layout will automatically be configured within our reserved seating computer software, so that customers will not be within six feet of other guests not in their family group.
- Each employee will wear masks and other protective equipment.
- We have streamlined transactions at the ticketing and concession stand to further minimize touch points.
- In between each showing, we will use a food grade disinfectant spray on all seats that removes 99.99% of all viruses on surfaces within 30 seconds.
- We will be using this disinfectant spray on high touch points throughout the building including the restrooms and concession areas.
- Hand sanitizer stations will also be provided for customer use throughout the theatre.
The chain is now offering gift cards for people to purchase online, and those can be used for any film or concession items when they open for business. You can buy them at Phoenixmovies.net.
“Just like in the past, with a determined effort we will prevail, again,” Jacobson said. “It is our sincere hope that our society can safely return to a normal routine of enjoying our lives and love of movies. The experience of living through this crisis has certainly been very humbling for all of us. I want to personally thank many of you that have called us and took the time to send us letters of support. These little niceties are just a little more appreciated than ever and proves to us that it’s incredible customers who have supported us the last 20 years.”
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