Loews Cineplex, the cinema chain with a theater that anchors the sprawling Waterfront complex in Homestead, has been absorbed by AMC Entertainment Inc. Yesterday AMC announced the completion of its long-awaited merger with the Loews corporation, forming a new company to be called AMC Entertainment.
It will continue to be headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and will operate more than 5,600 screens in 29 states, the District of Columbia and 11 countries outside the United States.
Already, people who make queries on Loews' Web site (www.enjoytheshow.com) are being routed to the AMC site.
Loews assimilation into AMC will take several months, but all gift cards and certificates and group tickets issued by Loews or AMC will be honored by the new company. After Jan. 30, Loews customers will have access to AMC's free MovieWatcher program, which awards ticket purchases with points toward free drinks, popcorn and free movie tickets.
Melanie Bell, a representative of AMC, said the new company had not yet decided on a name for their theaters. "At the end of the day we will end up resting with one brand," she said. "This will be an evolving process that will take place over time."
Prices for tickets and individual concession items will change -- they may increase or decrease, Bell said, after AMC finishes evaluating its theater markets -- by Thursday and, following the AMC model, taxes will be included in the listed price.
There was no word from AMC if the merger will affect personnel at the Waterfront.
First Published: January 28, 2006, 5:00 a.m.