Macomb, IL – There is a new tenant for the old movie theater in Macomb.
The owners of The Rialto Cinemas have agreed to rent the former Carmike Cinemas building from Western Illinois University.
"They came to us a while back and asked if we'd be interested in leasing it to them to run a discount theater," says Al Harris, WIU Associate Vice President for Student Services. "And we said we'd be open to that."
Harris also says WIU workers have done some painting and repairs to the building in recent weeks.
The one-year lease went into effect October 5. Western will be paid $1,500 per month.
The university also leases out the building used by Godfather's Pizza. The university receives $1,340 per month for that property, which is next to the movie theater.
The Rialto is owned by Melody and Larry McGrath. Their company is Earlann, Inc. The six-screen Rialto opened in June on Macomb's east side.
The McGraths plan to open the new theater by mid-October. It will be called Campus Twin. Admission to all shows will be $3.00.
Harris says the McGraths have been working with the University Union Board to continue showing lower priced movies for WIU students. Those movies are currently shown in the Sandburg Theater in the University Union.
The two theaters in the former Carmike building seat more people than the Sandburg Theater.
WIU also has plans for another empty space in the far northeast part of campus. Harris says the daycare center in the University Services Building will expand into the former Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center. The GBCC moved into the new multi-cultural center near the University Union.