WILTON MALL, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The movie theater in the Wilton Mall, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to reopen. Scene One Entertainment, formerly known as Bow Tie Management, will operate the theater.

“We’re thrilled to add the Wilton Mall Cinemas back ‘to the family.’ It first opened on my birthday in 2013, so this one holds a special meaning for me,” said Joe Masher, owner and CEO of Scene One Entertainment. “The theater is in fantastic shape and the mall has maintained it beautifully since its pandemic closure.”

The movie theater opened in October 2013 by Bow Tie Cinemas before closing in 2020. The Wilton Mall Cinemas will have eight screens, Dolby Digital surround sound, leather rocking chairs, concessions, and a private party room.

“Scene One Cinemas fulfills one of the most-requested uses from guests and brings the former theater space in the Food Court back to life,” said Wilton Mall General Manager Mike Shaffer. “It’s just one more element in our ongoing, thoughtful redevelopment that makes Wilton Mall a great place for people to live, work and play.”

Scene One Entertainment also operates Scene One Movieland (formerly Movieland 6) in Schenectady and purchased Huck Finn’s Playland in Albany two months ago.

The reopening of this theater will go hand in hand with Huck Finn’s Playland. Scene One Entertainment will have special birthday offers for parties between the movie theaters and the amusement park. If hosting a birthday party at one location, the birthday kid will also get tickets to the other.

“I rode those rides. My grandfather used to take me there in the late 60s when I was a kid. 50 plus years ago I rode those rides,” said Masher.

He said one man, Dave Matthews, has worked there for 35 years as a maintenance engineer and has taken “supreme care of the rides.”

Masher said a new ride is coming to Huck Finn’s Playland when it reopens on May 4. The Wilton Mall Cinemas is expected to open in February, although there is no exact date just yet.

The cinema will hire three full-time employees and 25 part-time employees. Huck Finn’s Playland will hire two full-time employees and 50 part-time employees. Applications for the Wilton Mall Cinemas and Huck Finn’s Playland are now open.