A $3.4 million luxury cinema will be coming to the Gadsden Mall later this year.

Premiere LUX Cine’ will replace the existing 16-screen Premiere Cinema, which first opened in Gadsden in 2003.

The theatre will be refurbished with leather electric recliners – each with a USB port – and individual swivel tables for an in-theatre dining experience.

An expanded menu will feature new options, such as gourmet burgers and pizza, self-serve beverage stations for unlimited refills, adult drinks and other options.

The development is being funded privately by the Gadsden Mall and Premiere Cinemas, and the Gadsden City Council will vote next week on a sales tax abatement of up to $600,000 over ten years.

Gary Moore, CEO of Texas-based Premiere, said the project had been planned for years but got delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Cinemas have come a long way in 20 years in terms of quality and comfort; we have better technology and more features today than we had back then,” Moore said. “Once we finish with it, Gadsden will have the nicest cinema around. It’s really a new chapter in Gadsden’s entertainment future.”

The theatre’s exterior and interior spaces will also be updated, and the lobby is being rebuilt with guest-interactive systems, such as ticketing kiosks for reserved seating.

Premiere Gadsden’s Director Ada Woodard said the theatre will continue operating without interruption during the upgrades.

“Half the auditoriums are upgraded at a time while the other half stays open, then we switch sides,” she said.

Kaylie Johnson, general manager of Gadsden Mall, said the announcement was “one of the most exciting developments at the mall yet.” A Food City location is set to open at the Gadsden Mall soon.