Hiring has begun and construction is almost complete for a new movie theater in Wilmington, an anchor to a major mixed-use development in midtown that will include a variety of restaurants and other businesses.

Stone Theatres officials estimate that the 14-screen theater at The Pointe at Barclay could open by late February or early March, though they aren’t at a point where they can make a definitive call on a specific date, said Marie Cole, director of marketing for Stone Theatres and Arc Brand Marketing.

But a VIP party for loyal social media fans and email subscribers is in the works, Cole said.

“We will announce our opening date to them before anywhere else and we will have various contests going to win a chance to attend the VIP party as well as movies for a year for free and other great prizes,” she said.
 
Stone Theatres hired managers for The Pointe 14 in December and early January and expects to employ between 75 and 80 people. The company announced last week that hiring had begun for concession, floor and box office staff.
 
Meanwhile, construction on the theater continues and “is coming along great,” after weather and typical construction delays presented a few challenges, Cole said.
 
Construction is also ongoing on the two buildings in front of the theater, which will be occupied by restaurants, a French bakery and gourmet grocer called Far From France, and a nail salon.  The specific tenants announced include Pizzeria Forno, a wood-fired pizza restaurant; Zocalo, an upscale Mexican restaurant; Duck Donuts; Chops Deli and Tavern on 17th.
 
Those two buildings are expected to be complete and the businesses open if not at the same time, not long after the movie theater opens, said Hill Rogers, broker in charge of Cameron Management Inc.
 
The Pointe at Barclay, part of a 600-acre master planned project, is under development by Cameron Management in partnership with Charlotte-based development firm Collett.
 
Also in The Pointe, a building close to Independence Boulevard is slated to contain a Starbucks with a drive-through, a 1,500-square-foot Intracoastal Realty office and a second Wilmington location of Zoes Kitchen (the other is at Mayfaire Town Center on Military Cutoff Road). Another structure closer to the theater is expected to house a Which Wich sandwhich shop, Orange Theory Fitness, Sports Clips and a restaurant from the owners of Nikki’s Restaurant & Sushi Bar.