Cinema 'n' Drafthouse Expanding to Maryland
Good news came to us earlier this week via Going Out Gurus about plans from the owners of the Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse (or, as many we know refer to it, the "drunk theater") to open a new location. And the expansion won't just be another single screen affair like their current digs. It's to be a six screen megaplex of movies 'n' beer, taking over the space about to be vacated by the P&G Wheaton Plaza theater in the Westfield Shoppingtown in Wheaton (pictured). The P&G is scheduled to close its doors next month, and after remodeling, the owners of the Drafthouse plan to reopen, according to their web site, in late summer.
The Montgomery Cinema 'n' Drafthouse will feature the same table seating and service as the Arlington location. We're hoping for a better menu (or at least better food on a similar menu), but aren't holding our breath. Aside from the larger number of options afforded by the multiple screens, the space will offer other new advantages over the original. Chief among them is easy Metro accessibility, as the shopping center in which it's located is less than a quarter mile from the Wheaton stop on the Red line. There's also more easily accessible parking in the form of an actual lot, though we've never had too much trouble finding street parking near the Arlington location.
Photo by Flickr user JackCoursey, used by permission.
The new theater will also be able to have a much wider variety of programming. The Cinema 'n' Drafthouse has expanded its offerings a great deal in recent years, adding regular comedy and music events to the schedule, as well as wine tastings, and even televising big sports events. But all those had to share one space in Arlington, where now they can all happen simultaneously if need be in Wheaton. Additionally, instead of just featuring second-run features, Montgomery Cinema 'n' Drafthouse will be showing new movies (for a slightly higher ticket price than the second-run titles), and even dollar movie specials on Mondays.
We're hoping the Drafthouse owners use the versatility of the space to provide a good place to see some offbeat fare alongside the blockbusters. Either way, we look forward to a new place to enjoy a few beers with a movie. Moreover, it's always a promising to welcome a new independent theater to the area. Now if we can just get someone to reopen the old Visions space on Florida Avenue.