CROOKSTON’S GRAND THEATRE WILL REOPEN FRIDAY WITH SPECIAL MOVIE LINEUP – kroxam.com

Crookstons Grand Theatre, like many businesses throughout the area, was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic by Executive Order of Governor Tim Walz in March. While Walzs order allowed theaters to begin reopening last week, the Grand Theatre took extra time to order movies and finish some work inside.

Bo Brorby said the staff have been doing a lot of painting, cleaning, and sanitizing the theatre during the closure. Additionally, local artist Trey Everett is creating a new movie-themed mural inside the lobby. Since weve been closed down for the last few months everybody knows weve been selling snacks on the weekend, said Brorby. Inside, weve been doing a lot of remodeling. We basically painted all of side one. We painted all the walls, railings and everything going down and then all the stadium seating walls. We took all the railings off sanded and stained them. Weve got all the carpets and seats shampooed and have been sanitizing them. We got some new light coverings on the sides of the stage. We painted inside side two and the outside of side two painted also. And then weve got a special project going on in the lobby with a mural going up on the wall.

The Grand will reopen Friday afternoon with showtimes at 1:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 7:15 p.m. Were going to be bringing in older movies for the first month or so were open, said Brorby. Were picking a bunch of great older movies that everyone seems to enjoy, fun movies to see in the theatre. Were starting with showing the Secret Life of Pets and Shrek during the day. And then, at night for the 7 p.m. shows were showing the original Fast & Furious, and Smokey and the Bandit. Each week were going to be bringing in a variety of movies. Were going to be charging $3 (for tickets) until we start bringing in new movies. Thats hopefully looking like the middle of July new movies will start coming out.

Theatre capacity is currently limited to 25 percent, which Brorby said is about 60 moviegoers for side one and 20 for side two. Coming in were going to make sure our lobby doesnt get too many people in it, so well keep the crowd low in the lobby, said Brorby. Theatres have to run at 25 percent capacity starting off here, so well be closing off every other row so no one will be in front or behind you. Then, youll sit with your group and have 2-3 seats in-between (groups). Side one we can only have about 60 people, side two we can only have about 20 people in. Were hoping well be in high demand and be pretty busy. Everybody seems pretty excited.

Brorby added that the blocked off rows would be rotated between shows as an extra precaution. After the show, well clean off seats and rotate the rows, said Brorby. So, when people sat in those rows, well block those off for the next show. We installed hand sanitizer right where you walk in, weve got a bottle by the counter, and another one in the lobby. So, we have hand sanitizer all over the place, so well be keeping up with all the guidelines the governments issued.

The Grand Theatre is planning to offer a mix of kids movies and cartoons during the day with action movies, dramas or comedies at night until new movies start to become available. The Grand Theatre will also provide private showings for people. To inquire about a private showing reach out to The Grand Theatre on Facebook or call 281-1820.

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CROOKSTON'S GRAND THEATRE WILL REOPEN FRIDAY WITH SPECIAL MOVIE LINEUP - kroxam.com