By Mike Hazlip–
Construction on the future 49,000-square foot Studio Movie Grill in Citrus Heights has halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting the location’s planned second-quarter opening on hold.
A tall, exposed steel frame on the building is currently visible behind a chain-link fence separating the construction site from the Big Lots parking lot, located next door. No construction workers or vehicles have been observed at the site in recent weeks.
“Construction was halted due to COVID-19 mitigation measures,” said Lynne McQuaker, senior director of public relations and outreach for Studio Movie Grill, in an email reply to The Sentinel on Tuesday. She was not able to provide a time frame for when construction is expected to resume, but confirmed “we are still planning to open the Citrus Heights location.”
McQuaker previously told The Sentinel last September that the Texas-based movie theater chain hoped to open the Citrus Heights location in the second quarter of 2020.
The Citrus Heights theater is slated to feature 12 screens and a total of 1,252 seats, along with Studio Movie Grill’s signature in-theater dining. The new addition is anticipated to be a major step in the redevelopment of the Auburn Boulevard corridor, creating an entertainment destination.
Additional plans for the redevelopment of the site, formerly home to Kmart, include a 5,000-square-foot space for restaurant and/or retail use.
Related: More changes coming to Big Lots, Studio Movie Grill shopping center
