Carmike Nixes Upscale Movie Theater for Scenic Highway

It's practically impossible to miss the big clearing on Scenic Highway by the Shoppes at Webb Gin. So what exactly is being built there?

According to Gwinnett County spokesman Joe Sorenson, a Hobby Lobby and retail space are planned for the 43.28-acre site.

The specific address for the development is 1134 Scenic Hwy., which the Geographic Information System for Gwinnett has labelled as the "Snellville Exchange," even though the address is technically in unincorporated Lawrenceville. 

The site development permit was issued Oct. 1, and a building permit for Hobby Lobby, which is projected to be 54,893 square feet, was issued last Friday (Nov. 22). 

Sorenson also noted that initial plans for the area also included a movie theater, since the land is owned by Carmike Cinemas. Its plans to build an upscale theater there were announced in March.

But Robert Rinderman, a spokesman for Carmike, said the movie theater company no longer wishes to build a cinema there even though it still owns the land. 

"Presently, there are no plans to construct a new theater on that property," said Rinderman. 

There is no word yet on when the retail development will be finished. Snellville has another Hobby Lobby store in the city at 2420 Wisteria Dr. 

Are you disappointed that Carmike Cinemas backed out on building an upscale theater on Scenic Highway? Share your thoughts in the comments below.