For most people, a night out to the movies requires careful planning of when or where to eat, as well as, departure and arrival times.
With the opening of Movie Tavern, dinner and a movie just got a lot easier for theatre guests.
Surrounded by food and drink service combined with all-reserved stadium seating, movie goers can now enjoy a comfortable movie experience like no other.
Movie Tavern celebrated its grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 27. Select people from the community were invited to attend the VIP experience, an event accompanied by dinner, drinks and the first look inside the theatre with a movie.
“We’re coming to Baton Rouge in a big way,” said Don Watson, Movie Tavern chief operating officer as he addressed the crowd. “This theatre sat vacant for a few months and we put a few bucks into it and hopefully [customers] like the result.”
Movie Tavern was founded in 2001 in Dallas, but has since grown to 20 theatre locations with 165 digital screens.
Its Baton Rouge theatre marks the second location for Louisiana. The first was built in Covington. The company is also planning to open a third location in Denham Springs in coming months.
“Baton Rouge [is] such a film-centric community,” said Danny Digiacomo, director of marketing for Southern Theatres LLC. “It is also the home of our core demographic, which is college students as well as families.”
Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden also made a speech welcoming the venue to Baton Rouge and congratulating the city on its progress in various projects happening around the city.
“And on behalf of the citizens of Baton Rouge, we want to say thank you,” Holden said. “What you’ve done is added another dimension to the life of people in Baton Rouge.”
Four recently released films were shown to kick off the night, including “Straight Outta Compton”, “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation”, “The Gift” and “Ant-Man.”
Movie Tavern has 10 screens and holds more than 900 seats throughout the theatre.
Variable screen sizes allow for smaller, more intimate viewings with the smaller screens holding roughly 50 people. The largest screen holds more than 200 people.
Movie Tavern provides an extensive menu to customers, offering varying breakfast options, appetizers and desserts, a modified kid’s menu and a full bar.
Two series, the “Retro Cinema” series, which begins in September will show twice a week, and the “Breakfast and Flick” series, which will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m.
“Retro Cinema” series will show a variety of retro-popular films, whereas the “Breakfast and Flick” series will show first-run showings and offer a new way to spend an early morning.
Matinee ticket prices are $7.75 each, while evening tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, kids and college students with a valid school ID.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Ari Ross

Customers take advantage of counter space Thursday, Aug. 27, at the grand opening of the Movie Tavern in Citiplace Court.