Tinseltown reopens Friday with mandatory masks, enhanced safety measures

You’ll have something different to do this weekend as Tinseltown prepares to reopen for the first time in months.

The first notable change is of course masks. You’ll have to wear one to see a movie, you can take it off to eat or drink.

Kayla Mejia the manager at Señor Loco Tacos and Tequila said they’ve felt the theatre’s closure.

“When we first opened it was a lot of traffic coming from after the movies or before the movies,” said Mejia.

This shopping center is filled with restaurants many of which benefit from Tinseltown.

Cinemark’s VP of Investor and Public Relations Chanda Brashears said they’re ready for a safe movie-going environment.

“We are staggering showtimes and reducing capacity to ensure we have physical distancing throughout the theatre,” said Brashears.

Cinemark is also instituting seat buffering technology which blocks off seats adjacent to your party.

Moviegoers can expect seats to be cleaned before each showing and high touch areas like bathrooms and concession stands will be sanitized every 30 minutes among other measures.

“We are offering a private watch party which allows up to 20 people in a dedicated auditorium to watch a comeback classic for starting at $99,” said Brashears.

Mejia said they’re ready too and will even have a deal for moviegoers.

“If you guys bring in your movie tickets you will get 10 percent off of your order,” said Mejia.

Cinemark Durbin Park reopens Friday, Aug. 21 along with Regal Cinemas.

AMC Theatres in Jacksonville and Orange Park reopen Thursday, Aug. 20.