Carmike Cinemas opened a new 12-screen theater Friday along U.S. 1, bringing the movies back to New Smyrna Beach for the first time in almost a year.
The city’s old movie complex, the Beacon 12, had been open at 1401 S. Dixie Freeway in the New Smyrna Beach Shopping Center since 1995, but closed in April 2014.
Westfield, New Jersey-based Digiplex Cinema Destinations Corp. originally took over the lease at the former Beacon 12 site with plans to open a new theater there, but Carmike Cinemas acquired Digiplex in an all-stock deal in May. The Columbus, Georgia-based company has been renovating the building for several months for a theater with just over 1,200 seats, wall-to-wall screens and tiered seating.