Wenatchee area theater and drive-in properties for sale

WENATCHEE, WA — Sun Basin Theaters is putting two of its current properties up for sale: the five-screen Columbia Cinemas in East Wenatchee and the Vue Dale Drive-In in South Wenatchee. The owner hopes to use the proceeds to finance a new multiplex and any purchaser will not be able to use the properties for motion picture exhibition.

The sales could help finance renovation of the old Kmart building in Olds Station into a theater and retail complex, said Sun Basin general manager Bryan Cook. The theater company acquired a purchase option on the Kmart property in June, said Cook, and continues in discussions with the property’s owner toward completing the purchase. The building and a portion of the surrounding acreage is owned by the state. “If all goes well, we should have traction in the deal by the end of November,” he said.

The Liberty Cinemas in downtown Wenatchee won’t be affected by the sale of the other two properties, Cook said. “Over the last few years, we’ve made a lot of improvements at the Liberty and definitely plan to keep it going."

More detail in the Wenatchee World.