By Karen Kennedy
Other than a few pieces of red tape to cut through, the Flix Brewhouse is on schedule for a late-summer, early-fall opening next year. The issue at hand right now is parking.
Looking at the vast, empty lot in front of the vacant space, it’s hard to even imagine not being able to find a space. But city ordinances, which are based on occupancy, call for more parking spaces than the current site plan allows.
“City officials have been extremely accommodating,” said Flix Entertainment CEO Allan Reagan, who was in town last week for site planning meetings. “I don’t anticipate this parking issue to delay us at all. For every problem, there’s a solution.”
“The magic in running a shopping center is that parking spaces get used differently in different day parts. I do believe that we have ample parking available for the traffic we anticipate, and if all goes well, we may even be able to take a little of that space and create some outdoor seating, which would be great,” Reagan said.
The parking variance request is slated to be addressed at the Nov. 5 plan commission meeting.
Once plans are approved and construction begins, the former Old Navy building, which now houses the seasonal Halloween store, will be razed and that corner will be rebuilt into the glass-fronted façade that will house the microbrewery.
The existing roof line of the Hobby Lobby building will be raised, and there will be excavation to lower the floor inside to accommodate the stadium-style seating.
Once complete, Flix Brewhouse will boast eight theatres of varying sizes; the grandest of them being the Flix MX – a 250-seat theatre with Dolby Atmos, the newest sound technology available.
In-house and local microbrews will be offered along with wine and other beverages. In addition to standards such as burgers, sandwiches and pizza, a creative, health-focused menu of small plates will be offered, with such fresh items as seared ahi tuna and hummus with raw vegetables.
Of course, there will be popcorn.