Showboat Cinemas in Polson is adding four new screens and auditoriums in the coming months.

The company recently broke ground on one of two new buildings, and Chief Operating Officer Gary Dupuis said, “this time next year we should be well open.”

Local cinema chain Polson Theatres will be adding two buildings on the north and south sides of its existing theater in downtown Polson. When all is said and done, the theater will be up from two screens to six.

The project, known as Showboat Stadium 6, is “a big step for Polson Theatres,” Dupuis said. In addition to the added space, the project will also include renovation of the existing theater space, an “all-new concession area” and “state-of-the-art” features throughout the complex, including “nice, modern” rocking-chair seating. The updated concessions stand will offer snacks such as slushies, nachos and pretzels.

The expansion has been in the works for about three years, according to Dupuis. While they just broke ground on the building to the south of the current theater, he said they have yet to make such progress on the north side. He explained the project will be built in phases and he has “no idea” when exactly the grand opening will take place.

“Polson is a good show town,” Dupuis affirmed. The small theater is expanding to provide local moviegoers with more options and higher turnover. “With the smaller towns, you sometimes have to wait on certain movies,” he explained. The Lion King, for example, has been playing for the past five weeks at Showboat Cinemas. But he said, “You can get a brand new product every week with a six-screen theater.”

The family-owned and operated cinema chain is managed by Dupuis and Chief Executive Officer Becky Dupuis, who is Gary’s wife. The Polson-headquartered company is owned by Becky’s parents, Howard and Ayron Pickerill, who bought the theater in 1971.

“We try to look out for small towns in Montana,” Dupuis said.

Showboat Cinemas operate 11 theaters throughout Montana, and Dupuis said they have “extensively remodeled” nine of these over the years. “We pride ourselves on well-maintained theaters,” Dupuis stated, “We feel we run a pretty decent chain on cleanliness and customer service.”

He promised “our prices will not fluctuate much at all” from the current ticket costs, and they expect to stay open for “90% of the project.” He ventured to guess Showboat Cinemas will only be closed for “two weeks or something like that to get everything hooked up” between the three buildings.

Even though the project just got underway, Dupuis reported there has been a “very positive” response from the Polson community. People have expressed to him they are excited about “more movies able to be playing at a time.

“That’s the big pull,” said Dupuis, but he also said “the fact that we’re staying downtown” has been important for local patrons. Dupuis and the rest of the Showboat Cinemas management wanted to both support the small town and offer something bigger.

The goal is, “when people walk in, they [will] think they are in a bigger town.” He hoped patrons at Showboat Stadium 6 will wonder, “Are we in the big city or in the small town?”

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.