Sable Riley
Arts & Entertainment Editor
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Continental Cinemas publicly revealed plans to open a bowling alley in Troy.
Using social media outlets, the local company announced ideas to attach a bowling alley onto the existing movie theater.
Plans include a 12-lane bowling alley that will feature glow bowling and computer-scoring mechanisms.
The facility will also include several amenities consisting of a full bar and grill with a wide variety of food and beverage options, and an arcade complete with brand new games.
Additionally, the entire movie theater complex will receive a face-lift.
“It was time to do something,” said Chase Taylor, co-owner of Continental Cinemas.
The movie theater renovations will include creating new auditoriums and revamping the current auditoriums.
The largest auditorium will become a premium large format house, which means a large screen, recliners and an “incredible sound system,” according to Taylor.
Taylor said that he’s looking forward to bringing something fresh and innovative to the Troy area.
“There seems to be a synergy between those two things—movie theaters and bowling alleys,” Taylor said. “I thought to myself, ‘Why don’t we do that ourselves?’ ”
The father-and-son business is still in the design stage, but hopes to launch the project, estimated to cost around $2.5 million, soon. They anticipate the project will wrap up around 18 months from now, but hope to complete it sooner.
Taylor said he believes the entertainment multiplex will benefit residents of Troy in two ways. In addition to providing local entertainment, so residents do not have to travel out of town, he believes the project will also boost the local economy.
Taylor said Troy University students were a main focus in the decision-making process.
“I think the students are always looking for more things than the entertainment value we have in town,” said Taylor, who attended Troy University until he and his father opened Continental Cinemas.
“I think it will be really awesome, because Troy is a pretty small town, so to have something to do here, I think it will be really cool,” said Cassidy Counter, a junior economics major from Huntsville. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Taylor said that his own wife, his father, Jeff Taylor, and his father’s wife also attended Troy University.
“We are proud to be a part of the University,” Taylor said. “I think this is going to be a very big deal.”
Taylor said they are looking forward to continuing their ongoing partnership with Troy and its organizations for the duration of the cinema’s construction.
He expects that it will not affect moviegoers’ experience, as they will try to keep six auditoriums open at all times.
“I think it will provide more opportunities for students to go out and meet new people,” said Noah Verble, a sophomore exercise science major from Montgomery. “I think it will encourage people to go see new movies while they’re still in theaters.”
Verble said that the renovated cinema will make for a more exciting Dollar Movie Night.
Dollar Movie Night will continue to be held once a month at the Continental Cinemas Movie Theater in partnership with the University Activities Council.
For more information and updates on Continental Cinemas, students can check out its Facebook page at Continental Cinemas Troy.
