The local movie theater and non-profit that’s been in the community for more than 50 years is getting a few upgrades next year — one of which is a nifty rooftop bar.

The Loft Cinema’s new design will have three screens on the ground floor (there’s currently a screen upstairs in the main building). The new “screen two” will be next to “screen three” which is just east of the main building.

Executive director Peggy Johnson shared that the budget for the new design is $3 million, and the non-profit theater is still looking to raise more than a million of that money. If you’re interested in donating to the new construction, you can do so online.

The empty space between the buildings will be a brand-new building that connects the two. Out here is where the new “open air cinema” will be located along with a seating area on artificial turf, new restrooms, and a rooftop bar — you’ll be able to see the outdoor movie screen from the bar.

The outdoor screen is in an area that’ll always be shaded from the afternoon sun. Johnson shared with KGUN9 that they’ll “broadcast the sound for the film through an FM signal and people have headsets. So, you’re getting really good quality sound right next to your ear, with no Speedway traffic. And it doesn’t bleed into the neighborhood, so we can have late movies.”

Also, the lobby and box office area will go under construction so that there’s more space for concessions — the line for food and drinks is usually stretched out to the parking lot on busy nights. The existing lobby will be turned into a lounge area for folks to enjoy their edibles before and after a film.

Construction is expected to start in March 2024 and then take about nine to 12 months to be completed.

The Loft Cinema is located at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. For more information, visit loftcinema.org.

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