DOTHAN, Ala. – As theaters begin to reopen under COVID-19 guidelines, one local cinema is making sure their guests feel as if they never left.
As Clark Cinemas prepares to reopen they have taken several precautions like installing this Plexiglas to keep their customers safe.
Since 1955, Clark has been involved in the movie business, providing guests with the laughs, cries and joy of watching their favorite films. But all of that came to a sudden stop when COVID-19 hit.
“I really cant put it into words, for me it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened. To be without movies and be without people, it’s different, strange,” Mack Clark Jr., president/owner of Clark Theaters Incorporated said.
For more than 3 months Clark Cinemas has been closed so as they prepare to open their doors once again they have made a few adjustments.
“We have always been hyper vigilate about cleaning really, I’m a clean freak, always cleaning, always. But now team members are going to be wearing masks, gloves, staggering movie times so that we’ll alleviate some if the large crowds. We’ll have smaller crowds where they can do their social distancing with the 6 feet in between,” Paul Hodge, assistant manager at Clark Cinemas said.
From minimizing concession registers and auditorium capacity to 50 percent.
“I know families are concerned oh well I want to sit together that’s completely fine but when you go online or you come to the box office you’re going to have to buy every other seat. But when you get into the theater you can mush together the way you want to which I think is great because then you;re going to have more space between other guests,” Hodge said.
Hoping that guests come back feeling safer than ever.
“I feel like were part of the community. We see some of the same faces over and over, we form a relationship with them. We want them to feel like they’re at home and safe. This is my life, it’s wonderful, I like what I do. Most of my friends are retired, listen I’m having fun at what I do, I enjoy it and want to keep doing it,” Clark said.
Clark Cinemas plans to reopen next Thursday as they premiere the movie Second Samuel. Second Samuel was a movie filmed in the Dothan area and cast members will be at the premiere next Thursday, June 4th.
