New owner of Regal Henrietta property may revive movie theater and more
The Regal Henrietta, which went dark June 7 amid its parent company’s financial struggles, could come back to life now that the property has been sold.
Scutti Enterprises paid Realty Income Properties 9, LLC, $2 million for 525 Marketplace Drive — the movie theater building and nearly 12 acres — according to the deed filed Aug. 25 with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office.
“We’re hoping to put a theater back in there,” said Kimberlie Glaser, chair of Scutti Enterprises. “It would be good for Henrietta to keep that an entertainment area.”
But, said Gregory Kimber, the company’s chief financial officer, “It’s a great property, so we are keeping all our options open.”
Scutti Enterprises is still weeks and possibly months away from submitting formal plans to Henrietta officials but is looking toward subdividing the parcel to also accommodate senior housing or a hotel, which Glaser said makes sense, given the location's proximity to the new URMC Orthopedics and Physical Performance clinic at Marketplace Mall.
The theater building also could be retrofitted for use as a store or a warehouse, she said. Although Kimber said the company already has reached out to Regal — whose owner, Cineworld, recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy — about being the tenant.
Whatever form the building takes, “We don’t want to keep it vacant for too long,” Glaser said.
The site is just northeast of Scutti Enterprises’ Jay Scutti Plaza at 1000 Hylan Drive, where work continues on converting an old Uno Pizzeria & Grill into a Starbucks with a 24-hour drive-thru. The building has room for two other businesses, and one of them will be chicken wing chain restaurant Wingstop, Kimber said. (The first Wingstop is set to open in September in at The Mall at Greece Ridge, and a second is planned for East Ridge Road in Irondequoit.)
Meanwhile, western-wear retailer Boot Barn will fill the space vacated by Chuck E. Cheese.
The company’s other properties include a BJ’s Wholesale Club Super Store on Jay Scutti Boulevard about a mile north of the Regal Henrietta site; BayTowne Square on Empire Boulevard in Penfield near Webster; and Lowe’s Plaza on West Ridge Road in Greece.
Scutti Enterprises, which grew from a single car dealership founded by the late Dale Scutti in the 1950s and has deep roots in Henrietta, was the developer of the Regal Henrietta.
The 18-screen venue was touted as the Rochester area’s largest movie theater when it opened in 1997 during a nationwide movie theater construction boom.
Other Regals subsequently opened at The Mall at Greece Ridge, Culver Ridge Plaza in Irondequoit and at Eastview Mall in Victor, but the Regal Eastview Mall is the only one still operating.
The Regal Greece Ridge is being converted into an Apple Cinemas dine-in movie theater.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New owner of Regal Henrietta property may revive movie theater
