Kingsport IMAX theater set for late 2025 opening
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — Leaders with Fort Henry Mall’s ownership group say they are on track to begin construction on the IMAX theater in December 2024.
Hull Property Group Vice President of Government Relations John Mulherin told News Channel 11 that the company is finalizing contracts with its architects and engineers and planning other improvements in the mall and NGC Cinemas movie theater before the completion of the IMAX theater.
“If we start in December, we’ll be finished in August, which is a nine-month build-out,” Mulherin said. “Then we will have a grand opening, we think the end of November of 2025. So it’s about an almost a year process to to get the IMAX up and running.”
Hull Property Group officials first announced plans to build the IMAX as a separate structure, connected to NGC Cinemas in October 2023.
Aside from construction on the IMAX theater, Mulherin said luxury recliners have been ordered for the existing theaters and plans are underway to upgrade the concessions area to facilitate the sale of alcohol.
Rural King
Mulherin also confirmed that construction plans are moving along for Rural King, which has purchased the space formerly occupied by JCPenny. Mulherin said leaders with the retailer visited the Kingsport site last month.
“They brought their other store planner and their head of construction that came in,” Mulherin said. “They’re planning to do their interior demo work, actually start the latter part of this month for a spring 2025 opening.”
Restaurant Developments
Plans to create outparcel developments for additional restaurants are also in the works.
During the October 2024 announcement, Hull Property Group announced that an Eggs Up Grill, a New York Butcher Shoppe and one future tenant might take up that space. Today, Mulherin said plans for that outparcel aren’t quite finalized but are “real close.”
“What we’ve done is we actually had to work with that particular developer to move the parcel to another location on the property to facilitate what may become something much bigger on the former Sears parcel,” Mulherin said.
Mulherin emphasized the Hull Group’s commitment to continued investment in the mall.
“We’re too proud of this property,” Mulherin said. “We’re too proud of the community. And there’s nothing wrong with retail in Kingsport, Tennessee. And as you see, there’s a lot of great retail here. And we’ll have our opportunity. And we think with the Rural King, with the IMAX, with our parcel development, we’re going to have our chance.”
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