Southeast Cinema considers building new theater

A representative of Southeast Cinema Entertainment Inc. says that the company’s legal dispute with its Southgate Cinema landlord likely will speed up the company’s plans to build a new theater in New Bern.

Meanwhile, it appears the landlord has found a new operator to resume cinema operations at the theater on Trent Road.

An apparent disagreement over the terms of the long-standing lease led to landlord BSH Southgate LLC blocking the building entrances and posting an eviction notice on the theater’s front door on the morning of May 2. Southeast Cinema asked the court for a restraining order allowing it access to the building, a request that Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Benjamin G. Alford denied on Friday. The cinema company also filed a lawsuit last week.

“I can’t (comment) on the ongoing case but I would like to say that this will probably speed up the likelihood of us building a new theater in New Bern,” Bryan Smith, Southeast Cinema’s district manager, wrote in an email to the Sun Journal. “We have three opportunities that we have been exploring and now the developers are chomping at the bit to get one built.”

Smith provided his phone number in the email, but a call to his office went to voicemail.

Southeast Cinema Entertainment Inc. recently finished construction on a new 16-plex cinema with IMAX in Charleston, S.C. and a 13-plex cinema in North Charleston, S.C., Smith said. He provided a photo of the cinema in North Charleston.

Meanwhile, a company named Bear Town Cinema 6 is advertising to hire employees to work at the Trent Road property. BSH Southgate’s attorney, Gary Clemmons of New Bern, said on Wednesday that he would not comment because of the pending litigation. When asked to speak only about the apparent new tenant, Clemmons said it would still be inappropriate for him to comment.

The Southgate Cinema closing on May 2 has left one movie theater in operation. Preston Padgett, owner and operator of Neuse Boulevard Cinema, declined comment on whether he has seen an increase in business or on any of his thoughts on the dispute among his competition.

P. Christine Smith can be reached at 252-635-5666 or pcsmith@freedomenc.com.