KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsRiviera Theatre: Lookin' like a million bucks

Riviera Theatre: Lookin' like a million bucks

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - The Riviera Theatre on historic Fourth Street needed a makeover. With the economy on the downcline, and more people looking for a bargain, the wheels inside owner Eric Hilsabeck's head started turning.  He decided the time was right to give the theater a facelift.

"The Riviera is such an old building that it need alot of improvements," said Hilsabeck.

Now after the renovations and upgrades, totally close to a million dollars, the theater is ready to reopen its doors.

Hilsabeck says one of the main reasons for these renovations is staying competitive and keeping prices low.

"And that's something we were striving for is the price of a discount theater but not the feel of a discount theater," said Hilsabeck.

The Riviera completly changed its lobby area, adding more video games, and two more theaters.

"It wasn't always the most fun work, but it looks alot better now and we have alot more people coming and it's more fun to work here now," said Jami White, Riviera Theatre.

Originally planned to have its grand opening in Februrary of this year, the economy slowed down construction.

"Different areas of the country had layoffs in the sheet metal departments, so our metal for our frames took a little bit longer than we initially expected," said Hilsabeck.

It may be a million dollar movie theater, but Hilsabeck says the price, a mere three dollars for a ticket, will stay the same.

"'Because people are looking for more of a value I think and that's what were trying to provide," said Hilsabeck. 

And so far, the reviews have been two thumbs up.

Hilsabeck kept a screen open during most of the construction.

You can catch a flick today.  The Grand Re-Opening is set for May 1st.

The Riviera also will feature a new "silver screen," which is the first of its kind in Siouxland.

The screen is high definition.

There's also a Digital Light Projector that can show 3-D movies, something you don't find at many second run movie theaters, and it bumped up the Riviera's status so that they can show movies sooner after they're released.