Sean C. Morgan
After months of construction and preparation, Erika and Thomas Baham will open the Rio Theatre’s second screen Thursday evening, Nov. 1, during an open house.
Friday, Nov. 2, the Rio will begin screening “Goosebumps 2” in the new theater, while “Bohemian Rhapsody” premiers on the main screen.
The Bahams dubbed the new 43-seat theater “The Roxy” in honor of the second theater located in Sweet Home decades ago.
They began developing the project after purchasing 1351 Main St., the former site of Deb and Beth Hair and Nail, nearly two years ago.
“I’ve been buying stuff for the last two years,” from speakers and sound equipment to building materials, Thomas Baham said.
The addition is visible to the right of the concessions stand after entering The Rio. A large hallway leads past the men’s room into the neighboring building. From there, a left turn leads into the smaller cinema.
The Roxy contains stadium seating, with 12 large recliners. The recliners feature a table where spectators. ????????? They aren’t in yet, but each one will have a touchscreen that can be used to order food and drinks. Each has a USB charging port and a small table attachment.
The chairs were expensive, and the premium seating will cost $10 per ticket, said Baham. They are available first-come, first-served, with half the seats for sale on the Rio Theatre’s website and the other half available at the box office.
The cinema includes one wheelchair-accessible seating space, a 44th seat.
The regular ticket price remains $6. Afternoon prices are $5 for regular seating and $9 for the premium seating.
Baham said the studios will soon likely require an increase in ticket prices.
The new screen is wall-to-wall, and “it doesn’t look like a small screen,” Baham said. With the new sound, “you feel everything.”
“This room has the perfect amount of subs. It’s top-of-the-line equipment. I’d rather watch movies over here now. The chairs, the screen and sound quality is top-notch.”
Baham said Friday that he is about 95 percent done with the project.
He said he had to finish up some lighting and a few other details, followed by cleanup and wiping down the dust.
“The city’s been great,” Baham said. “The county’s been great. I’ve had my best experience with the city, the inspectors, that I’ve ever had.”
The project is done on time, he said. “I’m very excited. It really is working.”
Baham said he wonders if people will hold off seeing movies just so they can watch them in the new cinema.
The public will get its first look during a free open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Casa de Reyes is providing food. The Point Restaurant is providing cold drinks and alcoholic beverages, and Dutch Bros. is providing hot drinks.
The Rio won’t start dinner theater events immediately, Baham said, but the concessions menu has been expanded. The Rio has submitted an application to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to serve beer.
The expansion will allow the Rio to cycle through more movies, Baham said. Studios are requiring theaters to run movies at least three weeks. The second screen will allow the Rio to keep movies while bringing in a new movies regularly in the bigger main theater.
During the upcoming November-December movie season, for instance, the Rio would only be able to run a total of three movies with only one theater. With the new screen, it will be able to provide at least seven different shows, he said.
Baham urged customers to keep an eye on Facebook and the local newspaper to keep track of them.
Upcoming films include “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “The Grinch,” “Wreck-It Ralph 2,” “Aquaman,” “Instant Family” and “Mary Poppins.”
For more information, visit sweethomerio.com or call (541) 367-5559.
The Rio is located at 1439 Main St.