Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
People used to go to Regal Greenbrier and Regal Kiln Creek in search of adventure, comedy, romance and thrills. Now they go in search of God. The two movie theaters, one in Chesapeake and the other in Newport News, are both defunct and now have churches operating within their walls. Outside and inside the former Regal Greenbrier, religious-themed posters replace the cinematic ones. The 13-screen movie theater closed its doors after showing its last film in early January 2024. Located at 600 Jarman Road, across from Greenbrier Mall, the theater had been a popular movie joint for locals since it opened in 1995. The closure stemmed from parent company Cineworld’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy process after a decline in attendance, disruptions in film and production schedules and an ever-growing increase in at-home entertainment. The company, which struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic, closed Regal theaters across the U.S. and emerged from bankruptcy in 2023. Lifepoint opened in the former Chesapeake theater, holding its first service there on Sept. 7. The church had been using space at Norfolk Collegiate, after initially using Granby High School in 2023. “If you’re a portable church, you have to get there at 5 in the morning to set up, then you’re tearing down at 2 in the afternoon and you’re spending thousands of dollars a month on rent and you don’t get it other than Sunday,” co-lead pastor Jessica Cole said. Thanks to what many may see as divine intervention, Cole and her husband and lead pastor, Eddie, now have a new home for their startup church’s nondenominational worship services every Sunday at 10 a.m. The lobby area still sports the popcorn machine, and they turned one of the theaters into a children’s space. They played upon the venue’s past — inviting the community to “experience church like a premiere” — with an initial two-week series focused on carefully edited scenes connected to Scripture and real life. Attendees were invited to enjoy snacks and movies — just as Jesus taught with parables, according to the church’s website. “We care about our city and don’t want to see buildings deteriorating,” Cole said. “Greenbrier is such a hub of the 757, and we’ve already been able to partner with people in the community. We just needed a space where we could mobilize our people from.” The church signed a six-year lease, approved by the city for five years, Cole said. With the Greenbrier Area Plan set to extend the road right through where the theater building is, she said they will just have to wait and see what God’s plan will be. Regal Kiln Creek opened on the Peninsula in 1994 with 14 screens and added six more screens in 1999. It officially shut down as movie theater on Sunday and is no longer listed on Regal’s website. For the past eight years, Lifehouse Church has called the theater, at 100 Regal Way, its church home. Pastor John Ware holds Sunday services religiously at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. within the building. The church’s website highlights the theater’s marquee on its homepage. He previously said they will continue to worship there until the next steps for the building’s future. A developer is proposing to turn the property into an apartment complex. Other Regal theaters still in operation in Hampton Roads include: MacArthur Center in Norfolk, Harbour View Grande in Suffolk, Columbus and Strawbridge Marketplace in Virginia Beach, and New Town in Williamsburg.
