By ED SALVAS
Coming to the new Middlebrook Galleria Cinemas in Ocean Township – smaller theaters, reclining leather seats, digital sound and on-line ticketing.
Those are some of the new features being brought to the Route 35 Galleria Cinemas which have been undergoing an extensive interior and exterior makeover since closing in February. The parent company of the Middlebrook Galleria Cinemas, Cine Grande, has been rushing toward a late December completion according to Township Mayor Christopher Siciliano, who recently had a sneak peek of the theaters. He called the re-opening plans ambitious.
“They still have a lot of work to do,” Siciliano said following the tour along with Township Manager Andrew Brennan and Robert Silverstein, owner of the Middlebrook Center. Siciliano said he and the others were shown the new theaters which will be much smaller than the older theaters, with just 48 seats in each of the 12 theaters. He said they will also have leather recliners and new digital sound. Siciliano called the experience “fantastic” and said it will be great for the town, bring jobs back and be a real “class A theater.” The Mayor said Middlebrook will hire about 50 people for the business.
Other changes include a new concession area and automated ticket sales as well as on-line ticketing. Siciliano said he was told that 75% of the tickets will be sold on-line cutting down on waiting time at the box office.
Robert Silverstein, owner of the Middlebrook Center said he thinks people will be pleasantly surprised at the changes and said the Middlebrook Galleria Cinemas will be a great alterative to the malls and will also have plenty of parking available. The new Galleria Cinemas will have a total of 600 to 700 seats compared to more than 2,300 in the old Galleria.
Mayor Siciliano said the Middlebrook Galleria Cinemas will show first-run family features.
