Tucson: Movie Theaters: Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18

Harkins Theatres’ First Megaplex In Tucson Takes Shape

Harkins Theatres celebrates 75 years of Ultimate Moviegoing; Harkins commemorates milestone with exclusive publication and give-aways. Read more...

Tucson Spectrum 18 grand opening

Tucson Spectrum Movie Schedules, Times, Reviews & Tickets from Fandango

Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 officially opened to the public on Friday, May 9, 2008.

Celebrating 75 years in Arizona and headquartered in Scottsdale, Harkins Theatres is the largest family owned theatre chain in the country and the premier movie exhibitor of the Western U.S. operating over 400 screens.

Featuring a larger selection of film, snacks, and innovative amenities to moviegoers since 1933, Harkins Theatres is renown for its commitment and passion for offering the Ultimate Moviegoing ® experience.

Founded by renowned showman, inventor, and community leader Dwight “Red” Harkins, Harkins Theatres has historically been a trailblazer for advancements in the motion picture exhibition industry.

Tucson’s newest and most technologically advanced movie theatre took a giant step towards looking like an actual theatre as the walls of the new Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 Theatres are now in place.

“Seeing each of our theatres take shape is a thrilling process for me” said Dan Harkins, Owner and CEO of Harkins Theatres.  “Knowing that this is our first location in Tucson, we are committed to making this the best moviegoing experience in the city”.

Harkins Tucson Unique Amenities

The Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 theatres will offer curved wall to wall screens, pristine digital sound and stadium style seating featuring the Ultimate Rocker®  love seats in all auditoriums.  The expansive concession stand will be the largest in Tucson boasting over 130 items including unique fare such as Freschetta Pizza, White Castle Cheeseburgers, Spring Rolls and Churros, just to name a few. 

Another unique differentiator of Harkins Theatres is their Loyalty Cup and T-Shirt program. Created over 20 years ago, the Harkins Loyalty Cup, which can be purchased for $3.75, is good for $1 soft drink refills every time the guest brings the cup to the movies and the T-Shirt, available for $20, is good for a FREE medium popcorn every time it is worn to the movies.  Both items are valid through the end of 2008.  The 2009 Loyalty Cup and T-Shirt will go on sale November of 2008. 

Babysitting inside a movie theatre?

Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18 will also offer something that no other theatre in Tucson has – the Harkins PlayCenter, an in-lobby childcare facility where for only $6, children can play in a safe, secure environment supervised by certified professionals while Mom and Dad watch a movie.

The Tucson Harkins PlayCenter has toys, books, crafts, educational computer games, snacks and of course – movies.  Harkins President, Mike Bowers, who created the Harkins PlayCenter concept said; “The PlayCenter is something we’ve built into many of our newer theatres.  It’s designed to be a safe and fun place for children while making moviegoing more spontaneous for parents without the inconvenience of trying to find a babysitter at the last minute”.

The Tucson Spectrum, mall located on the southwest corner of I-19 and Irvington, will open to much fanfare on Friday, May 9th with an exciting charity gala the night before with a local Tucson charity which will include a cocktail reception, premiere of a major Hollywood film and gift bags for those in attendance.  Details of the charity gala will be announced in late February.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Harkins Theatres is the largest family owned theatre chain in the country and the premier movie exhibitor of the Western U.S. operating over 400 screens.   Featuring a larger selection of film, snacks, and innovative amenities to moviegoers since 1933, Harkins Theatres is renown for its commitment and passion for offering the Ultimate Moviegoing ® experience.  Founded 74 years ago by renowned showman, inventor, and community leader Dwight “Red” Harkins, Harkins Theatres has historically been a trailblazer for advancements in the motion picture exhibition industry.  For more history, awards, and other information, visit www.harkinstheatres.com.  Or, call Bryan Laurel at 480-627-7777 or 602-738-3906.

Harkins Theatres to open 18-screen Mega-plex in SW Tucson in 2007

81,000-Square-Foot Mega-plex Scheduled to Open in Spring 2007; Will Feature State-of-the-Art Technology, Gourmet Hot Foods, Children’s PlayCenter 

After many years of anticipation, the southwest’s premiere movie theatre operator will open its first mega-plex in the Tucson market in mid 2007, according to the Barclay Group, the developer of the Tucson Spectrum located at the intersection of Interstate 19 and Irvington Road in Tucson.

Scottsdale-based Harkins Theatres will initiate construction on a new 18-screen, 81,000-square-foot mega-plex later this year, adjacent to the existing Westpoint Crossing Shopping Center which will re-branded as the Tucson Spectrum upon completion of the second phase of construction, according to Trey Eakin, senior vice president of development of the Barclay Group.

“The addition of Harkins Theatres will transform Westpoint Crossing from a power center into a regional open-air mall with entertainment as a major component,” Eakin said.  “The new Tucson Spectrum will become a destination shopping center that will provide residents of southern Arizona with a place they can spend the entire day – shopping, dining and being entertained.”

Upon its completion, the 1,015,142-square-foot center will be the largest open-air shopping center in southern Arizona.

Scheduled to open in the “spring of 2007,” the construction process will follow Harkins’ stringent criteria designed to eliminate any ambient light and sound from auditoriums, maximize picture brightness and clarity, and provide the most pristine movie-watching environment possible.

“We have wanted to be in Tucson for a long time,” said Mike Bowers, vice president of Harkins
Theatres.  “As a Tucson native, it is exciting to finally bring a state-of-the-art movie experience to my friends and family.”

Dan Harkins, CEO and owner of Harkins Theatres agrees.  “We have been dedicated to providing the very best movie-going experience possible for over 70 years, and we are excited to be able to finally bring that tradition to Arizona’s second largest market.  The Tucson Spectrum is the ideal location for our first southern Arizona venture, he said.”

Harkins said the new 18-screen mega-plex will be top-of-the line in design and amenities, “including stadium seating, curved wall-to-wall screens, all digital auditoriums and our exclusive Ultimate Rocker®, high-back rocking chair love seat.”

The interior of each theatre will be designed with the company’s fanatical dedication to showmanship.  The grand lobby will include a mix of neon, marble, granite and custom finishes and will showcase a giant auditorium screen that will show coming attractions.  Harkins is also known for its “Disney-like” dedication to a clean, comfortable, family-friendly environment.

In addition to quality family entertainment, the new theatre complex will also include Harkins’ exclusive in-lobby Play Center, where for less than the price of an adult admission, children can enjoy an entertaining, safe and secure environment while mom and dad see a movie that may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Movie-goers will also be able to enjoy a gourmet snack bar providing the industry’s widest variety of concession choices, including more than 40 candies, a full line of Pepsi products, Dr. Pepper, specialty beverages, healthy alternatives and an award-winning popcorn recipe.  The menu will also feature Harkins’ exclusive  hot foods, spicy popcorn chicken, French fries, cheese sticks, jalapeno poppers, onion rings and pizza.

Tucson city officials are enthusiastic about the new Harkins project and the entire Tucson Spectrum development.  Tucson City Councilman Jose Ibarra said the new shopping center and its attendant amenities will have a positive impact on south Tucson.

“For years now, we have recognized the need for a development of this type in the area,” Ibarra said.  “Companies like the Barclay Group, Harkins Theatres and other retailers have stepped up to provide residents of the area with a full- service retail center that is second to none.”   Ibarra also said the new development “will not only provide an entirely new array of goods and services, but it will have a positive economic impact on the area with new full- and part-time jobs that will benefit many of the area’s residents.”

Eakin pointed to Harkins Theatres’ expertise in operating some of the finest family entertainment complexes in the entire country as an important consideration in finalizing the agreement.  “We were looking for a high-caliber operator for this very special center, and Harkins viewed our development as a perfect fit for their debut in Tucson.  It was a good match for both companies.”

The first phase of the Tucson Spectrum incorporates more than 500,000 square feet of retail space.  Officially opened in the late 1990s, the center provides Tucson residents with some of the nation’s leading retailers, including Target, Home Depot, Ross Dress for Less, Marshall’s, Michaels, Office Max, PetSmart and a variety of other retailers and restaurants.

According to Barclay officials, the second phase of the development – which will include an additional 500,000 square feet – will feature a number of proposed new national retailers in addition to Harkins Theatres, including JC Penney, Best Buy Electronics, Sports Authority, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Shoe Pavilions.

The center attracts shoppers from all parts of the Tucson area, including Green Valley, Sierra Vista and southern Arizona towns such as Nogales.            

Featuring a larger selection of films, snacks and amenities to moviegoers since 1933, Harkins Theatres is renowned for its commitment to offering the best movie-going experience possible.  For more details, including history, awards and other information, visit www.harkinstheatres.com.

Based in Scottsdale, Barclay Group is a full service commercial real estate development company that is committed to excellence through its development, construction, marketing, property management and asset management services.  The company has developed more than four million square feet of retail space, with an additional four million square feet planned for development over the next four years.  The company expects to continue its growth throughout the United States because of its on-going commitment to meet the needs of its tenants, investors, brokers and the communities in which it conducts business.

Scottsdale, Ariz., February 12, 2008 –

Harkins Theatres celebrates the Tucson Spectrum 18

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