At Lilac Mall, once again, it's 'Show time'

A worker this week sprucs up the counter at Austin Cinemas which opens on Friday with four films. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Projectors will whir, popcorn will pop and soda will flow for the first time in years this Friday when the Lilac Mall cinema will reopen showing four hugely popular, second-run films with budget ticket prices and concessions that are family friendly.

The new Austin Cinemas are the creation of Mike Austin and his wife, Lisa, who recently relocated to the Rochester area and quickly saw a niche for a cinema like theirs, where tickets are always $5 for adults, $3 for kids and concessions never top the $3 mark.

They'll also have healthier kettle corn as an option to regular buttered popcorn, which will be cooked in coconut oil.

The most expensive items will be $3, with bottled water for $1 and pickles for $1, said Lisa Austin on Monday.

Austin Cinema's first movies include Nightmare Before Christmas, Iron Man, Maleficent and Pretty Woman.

Shows will start a little after 2 p.m. and run through late evening.

For Lisa Austin, and her husband, who spent more than 20 years managing movie theaters, it's heartening to hear from the community just how excited they are to have an alternative to high-priced movie theaters that charge exorbitant rates for popcorn and candy.

As of today the cinema's Facebook page (Austin Cinemas) already had more than 700 likes.

"This seems to be something the community wants," Lisa Austin said. "We're trying to provide entertainment that's affordable for families. Plus there are a lot of great movies people love, but they have never been able to watch them on the big screen."

She said besides having quality movies every week at a great price, she also will explore having entire franchises like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings showing at the Lilac Mall, plus special films for Halloween and other occasions.

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