The curtain rises this month on a renovated Maple Theater that offers much more than Junior Mints and popcorn.
Nov. 1-4 grand-opening weekend plans are a movie trailer, of sorts, promoting coming attractions at the three-screen, 700-seat Bloomfield Township venue. The concept is simple: Attract moviegoers by making the experience more inviting.
The new Maple will “offer an upscale movie-going experience for the local neighborhood and cinephiles all across metro Detroit,” says Jon Goldstein, a principal with Cloud Nine Theater Partners, which owns the venue. “Upscale” amenities include a bar, a Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. café, and, for those who seek a little star treatment, club seating in the back two rows of every auditorium with wait service for food and drinks.
In an era when movie viewing is widely accessible — from puny iPhone screens to the family flat screen, Goldstein says they’re aiming to create a space were people can hang out with friends and family before or after a film.
The Maple’s opening weekend kicks off with a Nov. 1 party benefiting Variety, The Children’s Charity. Tickets ($50-$100) are limited and include a strolling supper, drinks, and a private showing of The Sessions.
Goldstein says he expects the marquee to remain relevant. “Last year, we were down 3 percent; this year we were up 5 percent,” he says. “People have always gone to the movies, and they will keep going.”
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