Cinema grill plans $4.6M renovation of local theater

A Dallas-based cinema grill is set to assume operations of the movie theater at College Park Plaza near West 86th Street and Michigan Road, and plans to spend $4.6 million to renovate the dated building. Studio Movie Grill has signed a 15-year lease with building owner Sandor Development Co. of Indianapolis and should be open in September. “We’re taking this building down to the studs,” company President Brian Schultz said. When finished, the theater should sport 13 screens, 1,800 seats, a full bar and a menu featuring appetizers, salads, entrees and pizzas. About 250 employees will be needed, said Schultz, who founded Studio Movie Grill nearly 20 years ago. The company shows first-run films and operates 12 locations in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina. Besides Indianapolis, Studio Movie Grill also plans to open this year in Columbus, Ohio. The local building housed the AMC Loews College Park 14 movie theater, which closed in July 2009. It’s been occupied the past two years by Movie Buff, an independent theater operated by Chicago native Leigh Friedman. He's worked out a deal with Studio Movie Grill to remain in the location until construction starts.