Theaters at Ward to add beer, wine, better seats

Beer, wine and electric reclining seats are going to be added to the movie theaters at Ward Village this year.

Consolidated Theatres announced Wednesday that it has extended the lease for its 16-screen movie theater and will upgrade the property. The theater upgrades are part of the transformation of what used to be the Ward Centers retail complex in Kakaako into a high-rise residential neighborhood with retail and entertainment.

The theater chain, a subsidiary of California-based Reading International Inc., said the renovation will include enhancements to the lobby, the food and beverage menu and the seating, as well as the addition of a second Titan XC auditorium that features a bigger screen, better sound and wider seats compared with its standard auditoriums. There also will be some reserved seating in select auditoriums.

Bruce Seidel, a TV industry veteran who had roles with the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, and Santos Loo, a chef who has appeared on the Food Network, will enhance the food and beverage menu and include beer and wine.

“We are excited and honored to further our long history of providing stellar entertainment in Hawaii at our theatre at Ward Village,” Ellen Cotter, CEO of Reading International, said in a statement.

Consolidated opened its Ward megaplex in 2001 as part of what was then a new $40 million entertainment complex that included several retail shops, a 450-stall parking garage and restaurants Buca di Beppo, Big City Diner and Dave &Buster’s.

As part of the theater renovation, Consolidated extended its lease at the property for 15 years. The theater chain also is building a new eight-screen cinema at the Ka Makana Alii shopping center being built in East Kapolei. That project, which also will feature a Titan XC screen and a menu by Seidel and Loo, is the first new Consolidated theater complex built in Hawaii since the one at Ward, and will be the ninth Consolidated cinema in Hawaii.