When Country Market, the former anchor store for Saline’s Commons at Sauk Trail shopping center, closed back in 2012, it left behind a vast parking lot, empty apart from isolated clusters of cars outside Biwako Sushi, Mancino’s Pizza, and GNC. That will change early next year. Think lights, camera, action! The movies! “Construction has begun” on Saline’s

Emagine Theatre, confirms Paul Glantz, CEO of Troy-based Emagine Entertainment. The Saline location will be his tenth luxury theater project in Michigan and house nine state-of-the-art screening rooms in 54,000 square feet.

“We’re planning on a Valentine’s Day opening,” Glantz said by phone in early October. After successfully obtaining amendments from the Saline city planners last July followed by zoning approval from the city council in August, Glantz had the green light he needed, and Saline awaits its first twenty-first-century movie theater.

The last time Saline had its own movie theater was back in the 1930s, when the Saline Theater opened on W. Michigan Ave. where Benny’s Bakery is now. According to the Saline Area Historical Society website, tickets for the 270-seat theater sold for 25c, a dime for kids. Press reports back then boasted of comfy seats and a screen with the “newest sound type.” Fast forward to 2017, when the Emagine Theatre will be outfitted with 4K DLP Digital Cinema projectors, Dolby sound systems, and 1,000 leather power-reclining seats, with a full seven feet of space between rows. “It’ll be gorgeous,” says Glantz.

“My husband and I are so excited,” says GNC owner Patty Palombit. “We’ve been to the Emagine Theatre in Canton. They’re great. Every seat is like your own La-Z-Boy.” Palombit is most excited about what she anticipates the theaters will do for her business and others in the shopping center. “I feel like we’re on the brink of a renaissance! We’ve all been waiting,” she says, referring to the handful of businesses that have stuck it out since Country Market closed. “We never gave up hope. Luckily, we have a good landlord who waited for something promising. A theater is the perfect fit rather than something like a Big Lots. It brings business diversity to the city.”

Kevin Lawson, managing partner of Mancino’s, agreed: “There’s nothing like it in Saline, so it’ll be a big draw, and other businesses will benefit and thrive.”

Andy Kwon, owner of Biwako Sushi, is similarly optimistic. “Business has been fairly steady for me, although it dipped a little when Country Market first closed. I’m lucky that we have loyal customers. Every one of them is talking about the movie theater opening. We’re all very excited.”

Glantz is well aware that his theaters help nearby businesses. “It’s a win-win,” he says. “We did our homework and found that there’s a market in Saline that’s well suited for our product. We want to help Saline’s economic growth. “What’s more iconic than dinner and a movie?” he asks. “We want the surrounding businesses to do well by us.”

Emagine Theatre, expected opening February 2017, Commons at Sauk Trail shopping center, E. Michigan and Industrial Dr. emagine-entertainment.com