To local moviegoers’ delight, Galaxy Theatre in Victorian Square will be hosting its grand opening party tomorrow with showings of Predator in DFX and A Simple Favor, and invites the public to experience the newly renovated auditoriums this weekend.
When asked how his day was going, Galaxy Theatres’ Co-Founder/President/CEO Rafe Cohen responds, “We’re busy opening a theatre and getting a few loose ends tied up before Thursday. We’ve been in the market and in Sparks for a number of years quire successfully so when Cinemark decided to vacate (the Victorian Square location), we looked at that as a chance to expand our offerings.”
With all of the new developments going into Victorian Square coupled with a growing economy, Cohen is excited about including some state-of-the-art entertainment into the mix.
“It’s taken a long time to put together the construction, do the deal, and build it out but we’re looking forward to the future. It took a lot of remodeling to accommodate the big chairs (the reclining lounge seats) and we demolished the existing stadiums and auditorium to give it a new look,” he says. The City of Sparks also finished remodeling the parking garage which includes covered access directly into the theatre so that people don’t have to be exposed to the elements on their way to seeing a flick.
Galaxy Theatres is all about offering a premium experience to its guests by offering its trademarked DFX auditoriums that feature Dolby Atmos® audio sound systems that fill enveloping the entire room, creating a completely immersive, realistic experience. Along with reclining lounge chairs that come with adaptable trays to hold food and drinks, Galaxy DFX auditoriums also incorporate the Barco Smart Laser Projector system with innovative 3D reflectance technology.
“We want to offer a 5-star experience at a 3-star price,” Cohen says. “You can sit back comfortably in your reserved seating and enjoy a beer or a glass of wine. You don’t have to fight the crowds to get the seat you want, it’s friendly and easy,” he adds.
Recently celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Galaxy co-founder says that he’s been lucky enough to see the introduction of stadium projection, digital projection, laser technology, and state-of-the-art sound systems come into existence over the years. “I’m proud to say that I’ve been with Galaxy throughout the (20-year) journey. It’s a great time to be in the theatre business,” he says.
When asked how many movies he has personally seen, Cohen believes he averages about 30-40 movies per year (with one of his personal favorites being The Godfather II). He hopes that Sparks’ residents will see about 30 movies a year at the new theatre as well.
“We focus on the guest experience, be it a smiling face or an extra thank you or helping people with directions. We want to offer superb customer service in a great setting. We enjoy delivering the best and want to treat our guests that way.
We’re the neighborhood theatre…a lot of people just moved in but some people had their first dates at the old theatre and we want to invite them to come and relive experiences from the past. We look forward to making new friends and being a part of the community. That is a big focus for us, to be committed to the community and we’re going to be here for a long time,” says Cohen, noting that Galaxy also tries to participate in local charitable events when it can.
The Victorian Square Galaxy Theatre auditoriums will also be available to rent out for special private events and screenings, popular for birthday parties, anniversaries, and even office Christmas parties.
Galaxy Theatres will host its Grand Opening this Thursday evening (September 20) and invites everyone to come out this weekend to experience Sparks’ upgraded entertainment source.
Kelli Du Fresne says
When did the first theater open in this location