Regal Cantera movie theater on Diehl Road permanently closed this week but it could be reopening as a Cinemark theater as soon as next week.
Cineworld Group, which has owned the Regal Entertainment Group since 2018, revealed the closure of its Cantera operation with a terse “permanently closed” announcement on its website.
However, Cinemark says on its website that Cinemark Cantera Warrenville and XD is to open Tuesday, Aug. 1. Its message reads: “Hello, Warrenville — we can’t wait to meet you! Cinemark is proud to be the newest member of your community.”
Fandango, an online business that sells movie tickets, takes anyone who opens a link to Regal Cantera to a listing for Cinemark Cantera Warrenville and XD at 28250 Diehl Road.
While technically in Warrenville, the business is patronized by many Naperville residents because its proximity is on the border of the two cities.
Cinemark and Cineworld officials could not be reached for comment, but Warrenville City Administrator Cristina White said she was aware that Regal Cinemas had closed its theater and that Cinemark could be moving in.
“A lot of the details are unknown at this time so we can’t provide more information,” White said. “Having a theater there and having another company come in to keep the theater open is certainly a benefit to the community.”
According to bigscreen.com, the Warrenville theater opened in 1998 as the AMC Cantera 30. It was sold to Regal Cinemas in 2010 and renamed the Regal Cantera Stadium 30. A year later it became the Regal Cantera Stadium 17 & RPX when the number of screens was reduced and later became known simply as Regal Cantera.
White said she’s seen a number of movies at the theater before it closed.
“They generally had great seating and up-to-date theaters, nice screens, comfortable seating, recliner seating, so it was a nice theater to attend and local to the community,” she said. “I went there several times a year with the exception of obviously COVID, when we couldn’t go anywhere.”
It’s not known if Cinemark is making changes to the Warrenville operation. Its website promotes the fact that it has 17 screens as well as an XD (extreme definition) screen, a beer and wine bar, Luxury Loungers and an arcade.
“Cinemark Luxury Loungers are plush, ergonomic, oversized recliners with snack tables, cupholders and footrests. Best of all, you’ll find Luxury Loungers in select auditoriums at your new theater,” the site said.
“The amazing Cinemark XD auditorium is the largest wall-to-wall screen at your new theater, featuring a state-of-the-art projector and custom surround sound system. You feel like you’re in the movie.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.