Multiscreen Cinema Planned for Center

Residents soon will have not one, but two multiscreen theaters from which to choose.

Developers of the upcoming Plaza Pacifica shopping center announced this week that they have signed an agreement with Newport Beach-based SoCal Cinemas for a new 15-screen, 45,000-square-foot movie theater.

The announcement comes about a week after building permits were issued to another developer, Hunter Wilson, who will build a six-screen movie theater on Camino de los Mares, across the street from the Ocean View Plaza shopping center.

The agreement with SoCal Cinemas is the latest milestone for Costa Mesa-based Ramser Companies, developers of the 500,000-square-foot Plaza Pacifica, to be built at Avenida Pico and Avenida La Pata. Three months ago, the developer signed on a 100,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store as its anchor.

“The high-quality entertainment . . . of SoCal Cinemas, coupled with a great retail draw like Wal-Mart, will provide tremendous regional attraction for Plaza Pacifica,” said Scott Ramser, president and managing partner of Ramser Companies.

The 60-acre center also will feature a fountain plaza, specialty shops, restaurants, a service station, drugstore and supermarket.

Developers also plan a 162-unit luxury housing tract and a 130,000-square-foot corporate park at the site. With mass grading almost completed, construction is expected to begin in early 1997, officials said.