Movie Theater to Close As Part of Tri-City Plaza Redevelopment Plans

Tri-City Plaza is expected to be redeveloped and the movie theater is not part of the future plans for the retail space.

Work to redevelop the aging retail plaza is expected to start by the end of the year.

“The movie theater is going away and not coming back,” said Teresa Brydon, the city’s economic development manager.

The AMC 8 theater is expected to close by the end of the year, she said.

The city and developer have talked for about a year on the plans.

The project would take place in two phases. There would be some demolition, construction and moving of existing stores, Brydon said. The plans include two large retail space footprints on the on the east side of the property and other retail spaces that line up along where Publix is, Brydon said. 

The parking and roads within the space will also be redeveloped, Brydon said. There will also be some new outparcels.

A variety of retailers would be part of the redevelopment, however Brydon did not know who the new tenants would be.

“Sooner or later we’ll hear about it,” she said.

The project will fit into the city’s big box ordinance which limits large scale retail space to 125,000 square feet.

“When these redevelopments take place they look nice,” Brydon said.

The redevelopment of another corner, where the Crossroads Mall once was, helped spur this project along, she said.

A Walmart Supercenter, the 342-unit Gateway North Apartment Complex and a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Bus Transfer Station are planned for the 38-acre parcel at what is considered the Largo Crossroads.

“The redevelopment of the other corner has helped facilitate the renovations that are going to go here,” Brydon said.