Trustees debate allowing liquor at new Randhurst theater
Mount Prospect Trustee John Matuszak said allowing liquor to be served in the new AMC Randhurst 12 theater would be a mistake.
“Taking alcohol into a dark room with teenagers is a bad idea,” said Matuszak at Tuesday's Mount Prospect village board meeting. “When the lights are off, you're not going to be able to see what's going on.”
The AMC wants to serve alcohol in a small bar area inside the theater, but it would not be sold at concession stands, said Village Manager Mike Janonis.
Mount Prospect officials are working on a special section to the village's code to allow the sale of liquor in movie theaters. It would apply only to AMC Randhurst, which is currently under construction.
The board will discuss the ordinance again on March 1, Janonis said.
“They (AMC representatives) are putting a lot of money into this, and at some point it's incumbent on them to make sure there are no violations,” he said.
Officials are talking to AMC representatives about adding rules like making sure alcohol beverages are in special cups and making those drinking the beverages wear wristbands, said Mayor Irvana Wilks, who is also the village's liquor commissioner.
“They understand that if underage people are drinking they will lose their license,” she said. “Our police chief came up with the idea of the bracelets.”
Trustee Steven Polit said the whole idea might put high school athletes in a tough position.
“My son didn't go to parties because he didn't want something to happen and then all the sudden he's suspended for two weeks,” Polit said. “I don't want to send out a double message. This is an environment where there will be a lot of children.”
However, Trustee Arlene Juracek said the board should put a little trust in the AMC corporation.
“The theater has so much at risk here so they are really going to train their folks.” she said. “And theaters aren't pitch-black. You can still see what's going on.”
Trustee Paul Hoefert agreed with Juracek.
“They are taking a huge risk with their credibility,” he said. “If I were AMC, I'd be all over this.”
The theater — slated to open in April — will have four fewer screens than the current theater but house about 2,000 larger, rocking seats and areas with skybox-like seating made to feel like a living room. It will feature state-of-the-art digital projection, 3-D screens and live broadcast capabilities.
The theater's new movie screens are being installed this week and the new seats should arrive next week, Jim Conroy, Casto's director of development, said at the meeting.