Fantasy renovations

Rockville Centre residents will be able to go to the movies in style when the Fantasy theatre reopens in a few weeks.

Officials from AMC, the company that owns the theatre, said that it is currently closed for renovations, but is expected to reopen in late March or early April. It had closed for renovations on Jan. 27.

The opening will be a partial reopening. The ground-level will reopen while work continues on the second floor. The entire building is expected to be completed by the end of April.

“There will be some significant renovations going in,” said Ryan Noonan, the director of public relations for AMC. “I think the guests are really going to enjoy them.”

Forefront among the renovations will be improved aesthetics: the carpets and paint for the interior and new signage outside. The bathrooms will be renovated, and the concession stand will be redone and will have more offerings.

“It’ll be a true transformation of the theater,” said Noonan.

But of the biggest interest to movie-goers will be the new chairs in the theatres. The company will be installing “plush rockers” — comfortable faux-leather chairs that allow viewers to lean back more in their seats. They’re also a little larger than the current seats.

“They’re a little bit larger than regular movie seats, so we lose some seating capacity,” Noonan said. “But it’ll be something the guests will really enjoy.”