Movie nights are a staple of college culture. There is something magical about piling fifteen or so freshmen into a tiny dorm room for a Disney marathon, or experiencing the luxury of having a hodge podge of people pile into your Village apartment without having to check-in a single person. Some of us may have experienced an outdoor cinematic screening event on the Quad, or took part in an educational movie event happening elsewhere on campus. Yet, where should we go if we are looking for a night out on the town? The real magical theatre experience combined with the comfort of our cozy dorm room, and paired with the elegance of a fine establishment? Look no further than AMC Esquire 7.
Located approximately five minutes from the SLU campus on Clayton Road, this historic theater will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in November. It has been closed for renovations, but reopened its doors to the public Friday, Oct. 17. I did manage to grab a sneak preview tour of the theatre, courtesy of AMC Director of Corporate Communications, Ryan Noonan. Coincidentally, Noonan is a Billiken himself and actually used to write for the sports section of The University News. After sharing some of his own memories of visiting the Esquire as a student, Noonan took some time to show me the new, praiseworthy renovations and voiced his hope that the AMC Esquire 7 would soon provide equally cherishable memories for fellow Billikens.
Featuring seven screens, including one of the largest movie screens currently located in St. Louis, the newly renovated theater also features comfy, power recliner seating along with stadium seating in every auditorium. Although seating capacity was reduced, the seating quality is exemplary. Reserved seating will also be available for guests who wish to pick out their seats before the show.
A MacGuffins bar was added, which takes its name from a movie term for a plot device made famous by Alfred Hitchcock. This neighborhood-style bar is catered toward guests wishing to enjoy some wine, a cocktail, or a beer during their movie experience, and is even open to non-moviegoers who might want to visit friends after a show. An enhanced food and beverage menu was introduced, allowing guests to munch on mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, or even pizza in addition to the traditional popcorn and candy. Plus, guests can now enjoy more than 120 drink options with the newly added Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.
While the new renovations are certainly impressive, AMC Esquire 7 has not forgotten its historic past. Moviegoers are able to talk a walk down memory lane and see a visual timeline of the theatre through photographs set up in the hallways of AMC Esquire 7.
These pictures show the transformation that the theater has undergone and highlight the rich history which the theatre holds.
Overall, the newly renovated AMC Esquire 7 is definitely a theater hot spot. I spent my Friday night there and can personally attest to what a great movie experience I had.
I cannot sing enough praise for the incredibly comfortable seating, or how much I loved being able to recline my seat while watching a film on a huge, high-quality screen. As an indecisive person, I have to admit that the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines looked way too tempting, and the multiple food options left my mouth watering.
The staff was cheerful and friendly, and the ticket prices were quite reasonable compared to other local theaters.
In fact, I already have my next Friday night planned – do you?
