Page 6 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Check out renovations done at State Wayne

By Sarah Shurge
“You would have a hard time find-
ing another business that has sur-
vived nearly 80 years. State Wayne is
part of the landscape of Wayne and
of Michigan Ave,” said Cory Jacob-
son, Phoenix Theatres State Wayne
owner.
The State Wayne Theater has
been serving Wayne since 1946.
Phoenix Theatres has been at State
Wayne since 2012, and Jacobson
bought the theater in 2014 from the
City of Wayne.
“We got our new recliners 10
years ago, and it really changed the
face of Phoenix Theatres,” said Ja-
cobson. “But kinda like an old shoe
that you like but it's worn and you
need to buy new shoes, the chairs re-
ally needed to be replaced. Ten years
have gone by and it was time for new
furniture.”
Phoenix Theatres State Wayne
now has all brand new heated reclin-
ers with new sherpa material that
should not deteriorate like the previ-
ous chair material did. There is new
carpet in the theater. The seats now
have light up numbers to see in the
dark, which is something new. And
the hallways have been redressed.
“It’s a complete refresh of State Phoenix Theatres State Wayne Vice President of Operations Tearis Ried and owner Cory Jacobson kick-back and relax in the
Wayne,” said Jacobson. new seats. Photo by John Rhaesa
With about 340 seats in State
Wayne, the theater has undergone “Seats are very important to maintain. the next decade,” said Jacobson.
well over a $300,000 renovation “Hopefully these improvements will
project. When people come in, they are getting the best have people come and check us out.”
“Other businesses or theaters, Phoenix Theatres State Wayne is
they come and go. When you have experience they can get.” located at 35310 W Michigan Ave.
something like State Wayne that has For more information about
stood the test of time for nearly 80 Cory Jacobson Phoenix Theatres State Wayne, visit
years, that's really important,” said Phoenix Theatres State Wayne owner phoenixmovies.net/theatres/classic-
Jacobson. “Our goal is to maintain state-wayne/003 or call (734)326-
the building with wonderful repairs, “Seats are very important to main- (every second and fourth Saturday of 4602. Tickets are available after
to hand it on to the next generation tain,” said Jacobson. “When people the month) at the State Wayne. downloading the mobile app, at
of people, better than it was when I come in, they are getting the best ex- The night is full of costumes, phoenixmovies.net, or at the box of-
got it in 2014.” perience they can get.” lights, confetti cannons, squirt guns, fice in the theater lobby.
Last year, Jacobson had the en- State Wayne customers can enjoy and more. Each show is unique and If you’d like to learn more about
tire marquee changed to LED light- Dolby Digital in the auditorium, with different from the last. the history of State Wayne or Walter
ing. The old framework remains, ticket prices that haven’t changed in “The idea came in 2012, because Shafer’s journey to creating the State
however, the faces and electronics quite some time. we have a stage and the right atmos- Wayne, visit phoenixmovies.net/his-
are new. “We have been able to maintain phere that goes with the show. It's tory/state-wayne. Jacobson had a
“It was an enormous step in the ticket prices at an affordable price,” not something you go watch in a mall team spend much of 2016 (for State
right direction. Now the marquee said Jacobson. “Five dollars to go to shopping center. It's suited well for Wayne’s 70th anniversary) obtaining
looks clean and preserved,” said Ja- the movies, and $8.75 at night. It the movie theater. The marquee out- a collection of photographs and com-
cobson. brings people to Wayne from outside side also makes it really cool,” said piling the history of State Wayne
Jacobson crunched the numbers of the community, and we do well Jacobson. from the past seven decades.
and as of the end of December 2023, with Rocky Horror Show.” As of December 2023, 17,621 “If you have any photos or stories
the new LED lighting for the mar- The Michigan Rocky Horror tickets were sold for the Rocky Hor- about the State Wayne that you’d like
quee saved $4,914 in energy costs. Preservation Society (MiRHPS) ror Picture Show. “We have enjoyed to share, stop on the website to sub-
The old seats had been sat in (as Shadow Cast performs the Rocky 12 years of wonderful support from mit,” said Jacobson. “There’s still
of December 2023) 689,479 times. Horror Picture Show twice a month Wayne, and we’re looking forward to more history to tell.”
6 · March 2024 · The Wayne Dispatch