Florida theater chain buys Arlington Heights' Star Cinema Grill

Florida-based Paragon Theaters has acquired Star Cinema Grill movie theater in downtown Arlington Heights and added several upgrades for moviegoers.

The theater, which is now called Paragon Arlington Heights, has added electric recliner seating with footrests and swivel tables at all six of the auditoriums, along with updates to the theater's concession stand and bar, according to the company. The concession menu will include chicken fingers, pizza, wings, burgers and more food that can be ordered and eaten during the movie.

“Arlington Heights is a beautiful community and we are very excited to provide the finest moviegoing to its residents,” Michael Whalen, CEO of Paragon Theaters, said in a news release announcing the acquisition.

Paragon also will offer $6 movies all day every Tuesday, as well as free kids' movies during spring and summer breaks. The theater will host sensory friendly screenings one Saturday of the month, where the lights are on, the sound is down and kids are free to move around if they need.

Star Cinema Grill, a Texas-based chain, reopened the old Arlington Theaters in 2013 after it sat empty for more than a year.

The Arlington Heights theater is Paragon's only property in Illinois. It also owns theaters in Florida, Minnesota, Virginia and Maryland.