Plans move ahead for new theater

WASILLA — Valley moviegoers have another premiere to look forward to this year.

Coming Attractions Theatres is moving ahead with plans to build a movie theater in Wasilla on a 12-acre parcel of land next to Wal-Mart on the Seward-Meridian Parkway.

John Schweiger, the company’s CEO, confirmed plans are to break ground on the new complex next month and to open by Christmas. Coming Attractions operates movie theaters in Oregon, Washington and Northern California.

Plans call for the theater to have 12 screens inside a 40,000-square-foot building, and Schweiger has said it will be a state-of-the-art facility.

“We’re doing some things I don’t want to disclose,” he said in a 2009 interview. “I want to surprise people when we open.”

Schweiger surprised more than 300 people on Saturday when he put up a $1,500 donation challenge at the Valley Polar Plunge. When it was announced the event had raised $17,000, Schweiger said he’d match any other donations up to $1,500 to bring the total to $20,000.

Coming Attractions specializes in operating theaters in smaller markets, Schweiger has said, and likes to become part of the community. Prior to Saturday’s donation to the Polar Plunge, Coming Attractions has also become a member of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and donated $5,000 to help fund last year’s Silver Salmon Derby.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.