Old Broken Arrow Movie Theater Being Restored In New Orleans Square

An old movie theater in Broken Arrow is getting a Hollywood makeover.

It's in New Orleans Square, an area that the city has been working to bring more business to. The colors on the outside are purple, green, and gold to fit the New Orleans theme. Building owner Robby Winford says he wants people to feel like they're on Bourbon Street in Broken Arrow.

"Just to have a place that the whole family can come and enjoy a movie and enjoy their family,” Winford said.

Winford owns a section of buildings on South Elm Place. He bought the old movie theater building about a year ago and when plans fell through for a previous tenant, he decided to bring it back to life.

It's called the New Orleans Square Theater.

"My vision's going to be like a Mardi Gras party. Everybody comes in, we're going to give them beads, and we're going to have a good time,” Winford said.

Winford says inside, there will be a bar and eight movie theaters. He says there will be unique seating like bar stools, rockers, and recliners. Plus, he says concessions and tickets will be cheaper than typical movie theaters.

Winford says the plan is to show comedies, new releases, and movies filmed locally, like the Outsiders.

"We just want to get this area of town back thriving again,” Winford said.

"It used to be, by the way, historically used to be the place to be in Broken Arrow. It was the hopping spot,” said Steve Yoder, Business Retention and Development Coordinator for the City of Broken Arrow.

Yoder says the old theater has sat vacant for around a decade.

He says it's full of memories for many people who grew up at the movies in Broken Arrow.

"A lot of first kisses here, a lot of first dates here,” Yoder said. "And people just really love this area because it's where they grew up. First PG-13 movie they ever saw, or whatever, you know first R-rated movie."

Soon, the theater will be restored to its former glory.

"We hope that Broken Arrow will come out and support it, just like they did before,” Yoder said.

Owners are planning a soft opening with a free movie at the end of October.