Local
After nearly six years dark, Swansea cinema opens as Entertainment Luxury Cinemas
The former Regal theater in Swansea has reopened under owner Bill Hanney, bringing a nearby movie option back to local residents. Heated recliners and meal service are planned for a later phase, while a liquor-license application is pending.
SWANSEA, Mass. — A movie theater that had been closed for nearly six years has reopened in Swansea under new management and a new name: Entertainment Luxury Cinemas.
The site formerly operated as a Regal Cinemas location before closing during the upheaval that affected theaters across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owner Bill Hanney said he began preparing the Swansea theater for its return in July and described the reopening as the first stage of a larger renovation.
After Christmas, Hanney plans to install heated luxury recliners. He has also applied for a liquor license and said the theater intends to offer meals, though the license has not yet been approved.
The first weekend of business was relatively quiet, giving the new staff time to settle in before the holiday movie season, Hanney said. He added that residents had welcomed the theater’s return and wanted a cinema back in town.
For longtime customer Keith Lassonde, the reopening restores a convenient local place to see a movie and spend time close to home. Hanney’s Luxury Cinemas also operates Massachusetts locations in Falmouth, Hyannis, Leominster, South Dennis and Sturbridge.