The locally owned B&B Theatres – the nation’s eighth-largest cinema chain – has big plans for Lee’s Summit.

B&B has broken ground on a seven-screen luxury theater in the New Longview mixed-use development. The movie house should open early next year with the latest in audio and video technology and an expanded food menu.

“We are excited to be working with Box Real Estate Development and Platform Ventures on this project,” said Bob Bagby, president of B&B Theatres. “The state-of-the-art theatre will be a great addition to this premiere, mixed-use New Urbanism entertainment district.”

New Longview is located on the site of the Longview Farm, and it’s another sign of growth on the west side of Lee’s Summit’s View High Corridor.

“We call all of this new development along View High Drive our very own ‘West Side Story’ and are thrilled to see so much commercial and residential construction taking place between the historic Longview Farm and extending north to I-470 with the Paragon Star Soccer Village. It is a very exciting time for Lee’s Summit,” said Rick McDowell, president of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council.

B&B is also planning to upgrade its Lee’s Summit 16 theater sometime this year. The work will include a new concession stand, a Marquee Bar, updated bathrooms and other updates.

Lee’s Summit 16, located on N.E. Douglas Road, will be geared toward family audiences while the New Longview theater will be designed for date nights or special family outings.

“Late 2017 and 2018 will ring in a new era of movie-going options for Lee’s Summit and the surrounding area,” Bagby said.

Founded in 1924 in Huntsville, Missouri, by Elmer Bills Sr., the fourth-generation family-owned B&B Theatres operates about 400 screens in 50 locations in six states. It is planning to build a new flagship theater in Liberty and upgrade its other Kansas City locations. When the company opened nearly 100 years ago, the future Mrs. Bills played the piano for silent movies.