WEST BOUNTIFUL – For South Davis residents who have felt the dearth of movie opportunities, the wait will soon be over.

Dust is flying and construction crews are in full swing at the old Gateway 8 Cinema complex in West Bountiful to completely renew the aging eight-screen theater. It is scheduled to open April 30.

“We are creating an entertainment experience that our customers have come to expect in the Salt Lake City area,” said James Meredith, vice president of marketing and communications for Cinemark, the Dallas-based theater now operating the Gateway 8 complex.

Meredith said everything inside the theater will be state-of-the-art, including new seats, screens, projectors, and sound systems, plus a totally revamped lobby and concessions stand. The concessions area also has been moved to the south wall of the lobby — instead of in the center as previously — creating a more open and inviting environment.

“The theaters will also have 3-D capability and will offer a continuing line-up of first-run movies,” he said. “There will be full digital sound in all auditoriums.”

Meredith said ticket prices have not yet been set and did not have information as to whether the new seating would be in the popular stadium format.

Cinemark has been rebuilding the insides of the theater complex for about two months. The theater shut down in early August, after JL Theatres Corp., the previous operator, reportedly defaulted on two loans and had film projection equipment and other assets foreclosed upon.

After that, 3MB Partners LLC, a group of investors with Utah ties, negotiated to reopen the theater. General Growth Properties, Inc., owns the building. The large Chicago-based shopping center firm has struggled through its own bankruptcy, which it formally entered a year ago.

Simon Properties, another giant malls property owner, has expressed interest in the firm, with an offer to invest $2.5 billion made Wednesday morning.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com