MONTEREY PARK - AUGUST 30-2010 -- Monterey Park’s hope for future years of balanced budgets and a new era of no layoffs were looking good last week with the opening of the new AMC Theater at the Atlantic Times Square Shopping Center.

Officials hope the new shopping center will bring in several hundred thousands of sales tax dollars when the shopping center is fully occupied.
Earlier this summer officials were present for the opening of a large 24-hour Fitness center, which will anchor the north corner of the shopping center.  The AMC Theater is located on the south side of the shopping center.

In between the Fitness Center  and AMC are a variety of shops including a Johnny Rockets, Lee’s Sandwiches, Cold Stone Creamery, a Yogurt shop and many other retail outlets yet to be announced. About 80% of the shops have been rented. City officials were hoping for some additional national recognized stores.

The mixed use center also features 200 condominium units that are now being sold. A model unit was scheduled to be unveiled this week.
At the Ticket Tearing ceremony, officials, including Mayor Anthony Wong and Chamber President Vincent Chang congratulated Ronnie Lam of the Kam San Company the shopping center developers. Also attending the event were council members David Lau, Frank Venti and Mitchell Ing, along with Treasurer  Joseph Leon and City Clerk Dave Barron.

The Monterey Park Chamber Board of Directors was also in attendance to provide their support.

“Finally, it is great just to be able to see a movie in our own town,” said Atty. Vincent Chang, president of the Chamber of Commerce and local resident.

AMC officials said the grand opening days was one of the largest they have had in recent months.

The theater chain offered three days of free movies and popcorn that drew hundreds. On the first they, more than 700 people came for the movie offering. The number doubled on the second day and nearly tripled on the third day. Lines were wrapped around the block of the shopping center.

Monterey Park has been without a movie theater for more than 15 years ago when Edwards closed a small theater at the Monterey Park Mall located on South Atlantic Blvd.

The day after the Ticket Tearing, Chamber officials were in at the shopping center for a ribbon cutting for the opening of Yogen Fruz” a national franchise featuring frozen yogurt blended with fruit and served with a variety of toppings. As one of the few stores open for business, the Yogen Fruz has been busily serving people waiting to enter the adjacent AMC Theater.