COLUMBUS, Georgia and DESTIN, Florida – March 19, 2013 – Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKEC), a leading DIGITAL cinema and 3-D motion picture exhibitor, announced today that it will unveil its newest entertainment complex at Grand Boulevard located at the entrance of the 2,400-acre Sandestin(r) Golf and Beach Resort, just east of Destin, between Panama City and Pensacola, Florida. Opening night will be Thursday, March 28, 2013 at Midnight.
The new Carmike theatre, named the Boulevard 10, will feature ten screens with total seating for 1,800 and will be highlighted by a state-of-the-art "BIGD" auditorium and Ovation Dining Club, Carmike's premium theatre environments. The grand opening of the Boulevard 10 will feature a selection of Hollywood's latest movies, including the special debut Midnight presentation of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation." Carmike Cinemas President and Chief Executive Officer David Passman stated, "Carmike continues actively expanding our growing circuit, on our way to 300 theatres and 3,000 screens through selective acquisitions and the addition of multiple new-build theatres in promising locations like Sandestin, across 'Hometown America. The "BIGD" and Ovation Dining Club will both be Carmike's first flagship venues of this type in Florida.
Recent Carmike Florida expansion took place along the Space Coast in Melbourne and Port St. Lucie and along the Emerald Coast in Pensacola with the acquisition of four theatres from Rave Motion Pictures. Carmike has had a significant presence in Panama City and Pensacola for many years. "We're providing the ultimate entertainment experience that features large format DIGITAL with bigger screens, bigger and better sound, and the finest in-theatre seating for cutting-edge presentation and the definitive enjoyment of our audiences. Furthermore, with the opening of our newest location, the Sandestin area joins a select and growing list of communities across the nation offering Carmike theatregoers the exciting "BIGD" format.
The Sandestin Ovation Dining Club is only our second in the country and has been raved about in Chattanooga, TN, site of our first location. Many of our guests tell us that with limited time for leisure in their busy lives, they enjoy the option of combining a tasty dinner and refreshments, with a leading Hollywood movie." The entertainment complex is equipped with auditoriums featuring state-of-the-art stadium style seating, with comfortable high back luxury chairs, retractable armrests and convenient cup holders.
The Carmike Boulevard 10 also contains large, wall-to-wall screens, as well as DLP DIGITAL projection and DIGITAL sound. The new theatre has an upscale lobby, multiple concession areas featuring Coca-Cola Freestyle drink centers and an indoor box office, so filmgoers can escape the elements. The "BIGD" auditorium includes a wall-to-wall screen measuring 60 feet wide and nearly three stories tall, the latest in surround sound and DIGITAL projection of both 2-D and 3-D features. In technical terms, Carmike's "BIGD" DIGITAL experience is powered by a Christie Brilliant 3-D flash projector. The end result is a light output of 30,000 lumens, creating a picture quality with noticeably higher resolution than HD.
To further enhance the experience, the custom QSC DIGITAL audio system is tuned to a 7.1 speaker array with 16 channels and the ability to upgrade to 11.1, a revolution in surround sound technology with DIGITAL audio processing supported by quad-amplified, 4-way speakers and 21-inch subwoofers. The new, expanded configuration at the Boulevard 10 promises a new gold standard in unparalleled picture clarity and deep resonating DIGITAL sound. "We are very pleased with the tremendous, positive response we have received from moviegoers about their enhanced enjoyment while seeing films in our "BIGD" ultimate movie-going experience and have plans to open more entertainment complexes featuring "BIGD" auditoriums in 2013. Carmike Cinemas entertainment complexes currently under construction include Champaign, IL, Winchester, VA, Hickory, NC and Colorado Springs, CO.
We also have plans underway for new locations in Opelika, AL, Oak Grove, KY, Montgomery, AL and Snellville, GA. Whether it is a movie, concert, sporting event, motivational speaker or church service, Carmike guests will find "BIGD" placing them at the heart of the event," notes Terrell Mayton, Carmike's Director of Marketing. About Carmike Cinemas (www.carmike.com) Carmike Cinemas, Inc. is a U.S. leader in digital cinema and 3-D cinema deployments and one of the nation's largest motion picture exhibitors. As of December 31, 2012, Carmike had 249 theatres with 2,502 screens in 35 states. Carmike's digital cinema footprint reached 2,359 screens, including 225 theatres with 855 screens that are also equipped for 3-D. The circuit also includes 16 "Big D" large format digital experience auditoriums, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and luxurious seating and 7 IMAX(r) auditoriums. As "America's Hometown Theatre Chain," Carmike's primary focus for its locations is small to mid-sized communities.
Contact: Terrell Mayton Director of Marketing – 706.576.3464 About Howard Group, Merchants Retail Partners and GB Retail LLC – www.grandboulevard.com; www.howardgrp.com; www.merchantsretail.com Grand Boulevard is the shop, dine, play and stay Town Center located on Northwest Florida's beaches. Based on the prominent mixed-use architectural model, Grand Boulevard offers a dynamic lifestyle experience with convenient access to a multitude of exclusive shopping and dining options, entertainment, professional services, corporate offices and lodging. Grand Boulevard is a Howard Group and Merchants Retail Partners property.
For more information, please call (850) 654-5929 or visit www.grandboulevard.com. Howard Group is a portfolio real estate development company specializing in premier commercial, hospitality and residential developments in Northwest Florida. Established in 1988, Howard Group is responsible for the development of the acclaimed Silver Sands Premium Outlets. Howard Group's latest project is the distinctive Grand Boulevard at Sandestin(r) Town Center, which includes two Marriott hotels, exclusive shops, destination restaurants, state-of-the-art office space and a lush park. The company has also developed several upscale gulf-front resort and residential communities such as Vizcaya at Dune Allen and Stallworth Preserve. Heron Harbor is a future project in Destin that is being designed as a mixed-use community that will include retail, office, residential and marina components. A diverse and visionary company, Howard Group places a primary emphasis on sustainable and responsible development of prime real estate.
Merchants Retail Partners (MRP) is a real estate investment firm specializing in retail development, acquisitions and dispositions as well as asset management. Its member companies have over 50 years of real estate, investment and entrepreneurial experience. Members include Protective Life Insurance Company, a leading provider of life insurance and annuity products with $40 billion in assets and Real Estate Capital Strategies LLC (RECS).
Contact: Stacey Brady Director of Marketing and Public Relations – 850.837.3099 ext.3 Grand Boulevard at Sandestin
