Plans to open a Texas Music Cafe venue and TV station in Temple Mall's former Premiere Cinema space are still under negotiation, but the idea of creating an entertainment complex there is moving forward at full speed. speed.
Several of the site's 16 movie theaters will be renamed the Hometown Entertainment complex and will likely include two live music and comedy venues, six to eight movie theaters and a full-service concession stand.
Other options include a community children's theater and game rooms where guests can bring their own game consoles and play on large screens. The new business will be operated by Temple Mall and several partners, including Temple businessman Craig McManus, owner of Treat Shack in the mall.
McManus plans to use six to eight theaters for first-run films and classics.
I would like to see two rooms used for live music, a mix of country, rock, hip hop, whatever, he said. Frequent comedy nights would also be a strong possibility.
When it comes to music, we could either pay bands a flat fee or offer a split of gate receipts. We would keep the revenue from the concessions.
We would like to reserve one of the largest theaters for big name bands and comedians, he said. I think Drop the Mic Comedy would be a good name.
Temple Mall General Manager Monica Britten said the mall is open to partnering with other people or businesses interested in leasing part of the old theater.
Craig (McManus) has great vision, Britten said. We still have a few bugs to fix. We don't want to be known as the mall that got a bad aquarium deal. This caused a lot of damage to the mall; now we want to bounce back and give something to the community.
Although a deal between the mall and Texas Music Cafe has not been reached, Britten expressed hope that the Waco-based streaming concert television channel will open a venue in Temple. A deal involving the IMAX theater was in the works, but it did not come to fruition.
I'm going to discuss it with Chris Ermoian (executive producer of Temple Music Cafe) this week, she said.
Ermoian said he is still interested in a Temple location, but it could take some time.
We had a grand opening at our new location in Waco last weekend, he said. For three days we had a full house, live music and concert videos. We want Waco to ride strong before turning our attention to Temple.
McManus said Hometown Entertainment would likely use six to eight of the theaters for films, both first-run classics and older classics.
My vision is to keep the entertainment complex active seven days a week, he said. Maybe 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. We will have mornings at great prices.
Britten did not have a firm date for the opening, but McManus said he hopes to see the theater complex up and running by July.
Early July would be ideal for two rooms, and then we can slowly open the others.
Britten said lack of space is not a problem at the sprawling theater.
There's plenty of space, she said. The mall is open to partnerships with businesses in the community that want to use part of the old theater.
Depending on McManus' vision, the old arcade could remain a game room, or it could be transformed into a bar or restaurant. Additionally, tickets will be sold online and at the concession stand. He therefore wants to transform the ticket office area into a space for relaxation and conversation.