A longtime Columbia movie theater closed but will reopen with a different company

The big screen has gone dark at a longtime Columbia movie theater, but it appears that may only be temporary.

The AMC Dutch Square 14 at the Dutch Square Center mall, located at 421 Bush River Road, is closed, according to a message on AMC’s website. There are also signs on the door at the Dutch Square theater that say it is closed and direct customers to the nearest open AMC theater, which is the AMC Harbison 14 on Columbiana Drive.

However, there also are signs on the door at the Dutch Square location that indicate it will be reopening in September with the company Bow Tie Management.

Bow Tie Management owner and chief operating officer Joseph Masher said Friday he is looking forward to getting the theater back up on its feet.

“We are excited to reopen this Columbia institution and bring a variety of movies and special presentations to our guests,” Masher said in a release. “The theater has been a longstanding favorite of moviegoers in Columbia, and we are planning some new elements to improve it.”

Masher said he plans to add a hot food menu to the theater, featuring chicken fingers, hot dogs, mac and cheese bites, and more. He also says he wants to reactivate a long dormant cafe space in the theater, and convert it to a bar.

“The theater will also feature an affordable birthday party program and private auditorium rentals as well,” Masher said in the release.

Masher is planning for a grand opening celebration on Sept. 3 where all tickets would be $3.

Columbia TV station WLTX first reported Bow Tie Management’s plans to reopen the theater.

Movie theater nostalgia site cinematreasures.org notes the Dutch Square 14 opened in December 1997 as part of the General Cinemas chain. It later became part of the AMC company — the nation’s largest theater chain — when AMC bought General.