City approves redesign of soon-to-reopen Northpark cinema

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) - The Ridgeland Board of Aldermen has signed off on plans for exterior renovations to the movie theater at Northpark Mall.

The cinema closed in January, and Northpark announced in May that Missouri-based B&B Theatres would be taking it over later this year.

Rendering of new B&B Theatre at Northpark Mall (Source: City of Ridgeland)

Paul Farnsworth, B&B Theatres’ director of public relations, says the theater will be fully renovated inside and out, with the addition of a bar area to be called the “Marquee Lounge.” Guests of legal age will be able to purchase wine, beer and cocktails. Reserved seating will also be offered in electric recliners. Farnsworth says other amenities will be announced closer to the facility’s opening sometime in mid-2020.

B&B operates 50 other theaters, including the Vicksburg Mall 6 in Vicksburg. Northpark will be its second Mississippi location.

Another theater is also under construction in Ridgeland. Memphis-based Malco is building a cinema in a new section of the Renaissance at Colony Park, adjacent to the C Spire building. Earlier this month, Malco announced that it would be upgrading its existing theater in Madison to include IMAX capability.

Farnsworth says competition creates opportunity.

“We are utterly confident that once (moviegoers) experience the uniqueness of our theatrical amenities, the aesthetic quality of our facilities, and the caliber of our service, they will determine B&B as their cinema of choice,” Farnsworth said. “We can’t wait to exceed expectation and bring the magic of the movies to Ridgeland in new and exciting ways.”