Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2013

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When cinebarre opened
its doors on Houston-Northcutt
Boulevard in Mount Pleasant
four years ago, local observ-
ers were pleasantly surprised to
discover that it was a forward-
looking entertainment business dedicated to providing
patrons with an exceptional “night-
out” experience.
Movies are one centerpiece of Cinebarre’s business, but
dining and a carefully refined
ambience geared toward height-
ening the enjoyment of its audi-
ences also are important.
With the exception of some
special event screenings, Cine-
barre shows the best of first run
features on 11 screens, now
all digital. It also offers meals
made in-house, ranging from a
selection of popular appetizers
to burgers, pizza, sandwiches
and more – all labeled with
whimsical cinema-themed
names – and a wide variety of
soft drinks plus and extensive
list of wines and beers. All of
Cinebarre’s dining selections are prepared from scratch to
order and delivered to patrons in their seats in the theater.
The adult atmosphere at Cinebarre is established by
barring parents from bringing children under the age of
3 – except to a designated Tuesday matinee on “Crybaby
Day,” when they are more than welcome – and barring
teens under 18 unless they are accompanied by a respon-
sible adult older than 21.
All this is the vision of Cinebarre’s creator, Terrell Braly,
whose entertainment career includes producing movies,
running restaurants, pioneering the prototype cinema-
eatery concept and promoting concerts for legendary acts
such as the Beach Boys, the Eagles, the Steve Miller Band
and Huey Lewis and the News.
To state that Braly has had a wide-ranging and colorful
career is to understate the strong opinions he has formed on
what constitutes an enjoyable and cost-effective entertain-
ment experience and the influence his own larger-than-life
personality continues to have on his staff and customers.
When Braly lived in New York City and frequently
went to the movies, he found his enjoyment marred by
several concerns. For one, if he went to dinner before a
show, he was constantly checking his watch, worrying
about whether his party would
be seated promptly, served
expeditiously and be able to
make it to the theater by show-
time. For another, once he was
seated and the film began, his
senses were assaulted by people
talking and texting on their cell
phones and younger patrons,
primarily teens, chatting loudly
among themselves, throwing
popcorn, aiming laser pointers
at the screen and even blatantly
smoking cigarettes. In his ex-
perience, cinema staff, them-
selves often young kids, were
more likely to ignore disruptive
behavior in order to appear “cool.”
Braly vowed that when he was the guy in charge, din-
ner and a movie – a quality dinner and the best movies he
could book, that is – would be available under one roof,
and any activities that detracted from his customers’ enter-
tainment experience would be eliminated.
That formula obviously worked. Today, Cinebarre has
six locations across the country, with nine units projected
by the end of 2013. In Mount Pleasant, the complex can
seat – and feed – up to 1,000 guests simultaneously. To
reach out to an even broader universe of customers, Braly
has instituted, in addition to “Crybaby Day,” “$5 Tuesday,
“Wednesday College Night,” offering reduced-price beer
Eat,Drink andWatchMovies
Cinebarre Offers an Exceptional
Experience
Going Out
By BILL FarLey
Cinebarre offers meals made in-house, ranging from a selection
of popular appetizers to burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more –
all labeled with whimsical cinema-themed names.
Photos by Brandon Clark Photos by Brandon Clark