Regal slates theater reopenings; Clark County opening date not known

Regal Cinemas, the second-largest movie theater chain in the U.S., will reopen beginning April 2, its parent company, Cineworld Group, announced Tuesday. Details about possible Clark County openings were not available.

Regal operates four multiplexes in Clark County; the downtown City Center location, Regal Cinema 99 in Hazel Dell, Regal Vancouver Plaza off of Fourth Plain Boulevard and Regal Cascade in east Vancouver.

Regal had been one of most notable holdouts in the gradual reopening of cinemas nationwide. For nearly half a year, its 7,211 screens and 549 theaters in the U.S. have been dark. Doors will open early next month with attendance limited to 25 percent to 50 percent capacity in about 500 locations.

The company’s announcement did not specify which of its theaters will return on April 2, so it’s not yet known whether any of the Clark County locations will be in the first wave. A message on Regal’s website states that additional theaters “will be opening in the weeks to follow” after April 2 and customers should check back “soon” for a list of locations opening throughout the month.

Competitor AMC began reopening some of its locations earlier this year. The company operates two multiplexes in Vancouver: AMC Vancouver Mall 23 and AMC CLASSIC Mill Plain 8. Both locations reopened in late February, although according to the company’s website the Mill Plain location is currently only operating Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Clark County’s remaining screens are a mixed bag; the Liberty Theatre in Camas reopened in February but the Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver remains closed, according to recent social media posts. Battle Ground Cinema operator Prestige Theatres stated last month that it would hold off on reopening due to a lack of any immediate upcoming big tentpole releases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.