The Old Showcase Cinema is Coming Down!

Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development

The City of Auburn Hills announced today that following a 11-year vacancy, the site of the Showcase Cinemas at 2150 N. Opdyke Road will be demolished beginning the week of June 17th to make way for a new business park.  The property, previously owned by National Amusement, was purchased in May by Novi-based Amson Dembs Development, Inc.

Originally the site of the Blue Sky Drive-In, which began operation in 1948, the theater later became part of the National Amusements chain.  In 1989, Blue Sky was demolished to make way for the Showcase Cinemas Auburn Hills megaplex.  Showcase Cinemas opened its doors in December 1989 and closed in January 2002, as National Amusement shuttered a slew of its theaters due to an inability to keep pace with competition and amenities new theaters could afford.  In Auburn Hills, the Showcase Cinema was not able to survive the popular Star Theatre (now AMC) at the nearby Great Lakes Crossing Outlets.

This blockbuster project is starting to generate a lot of buzz around town.  Our community envisioned a beautifully landscaped high-tech park for that property since the day the theater closed.  It’s great to see Amson Dembs Development demolish that vacant building and its ‘sea of parking’.  By repurposing the land into a major job center, they’re helping make Auburn Hills’ vision for this site become a reality.

Development of the approximately 21+ acre high-tech business park is expected to begin in July and take approximately 10 to 12 months to complete the first phase.  Details of the business park development and prospective tenants will be released later this summer.

It’s an exciting time in Auburn Hills.  Y2013 is shaping up to be a year to remember.