Renovations coming to Lombard movie theater

Moviegoers will have a new and improved experience in a few months when they visit the AMC movie theater complex at Yorktown Center in Lombard.

AMC Spokesman Ryan Noonan said the company has decided to do some major renovations to the theater's 18 auditoriums, including the addition of power reclining chairs, wider aisles and access to more food options and alcohol.

“For us, it's about elevating the guest experience,” he said. “We think guests are really going to respond well to it.”

Construction has begun and will be done in phases so parts of the theater can remain open, Noonan said. Most of the work is expected to be finished by December.

AMC will be introducing its new RedKitchen concept at the Yorktown location, which will allow guests to purchase sandwiches, wraps, pizza, salads and other menu options. The food then will be delivered to guests in their seats.

There also are plans to construct a bar and lounge, called MacGuffins, near the entrance of the theater. Patrons can choose to either enjoy beer, wine or cocktails at the bar or take their alcoholic beverages with them into the theater.

AMC theaters in Mount Prospect and Lake in the Hills already include a MacGuffins but not a RedKitchen, Noonan said. Yorktown will be the first AMC dine-in theater in Illinois and only the second RedKitchen AMC theater in the country.

With the renovations, the number of seats in the movie theater will decrease significantly. However, the upgrades will increase seating occupancy, as more people will come to have a better experience, said William Heniff, the village's director of community development.

“They're trying to be competitive to the market,” Heniff said. “They want to make it more of a full experience for patrons. It seems to be a trend that is occurring both nationally and locally.”