Replacement announced for Grossmont's departed Reading Cinemas

AMC Theatres is coming to Grossmont Center.

AMC, the largest film exhibitor in the world, on Tuesday announced an agreement to take over the space vacated by the mall's longtime theater tenant Reading Cinemas, which bid farewell last week.

With this move, AMC is building its presence in San Diego even as it shuts down theaters in other markets.

"Bringing AMC to Grossmont Center is an exciting opportunity to introduce our premium moviegoing experience to a strong and growing community in the San Diego area," Dan Ellis, an AMC executive vice president, wrote in the news release.

AMC plans to renovate and reopen the theater next year.

"As part of the acquisition, the theatre will receive extensive upgrades, including the installation of AMC's signature power reclining seats in all 10 auditoriums, among other significant improvements to be shared closer to opening. Once complete, AMC will offer a fully modernized moviegoing experience designed to serve guests throughout La Mesa and the greater San Diego market," the company said in a news release.

Along with reclining seats, theater goers might see higher prices in some cases.

"What makes Reading Cinemas unique is that this premium experience doesn't come at a premium price," says its mall website, which is still reachable online. It added, "It offers the finest theater amenities at incredibly affordable prices."

San Diego's last Reading Cinemas shuts down

For an upcoming showing of the new release Disclosure Day, a Reading ticket in Murrieta costs just shy of $20, while prices at AMC's UTC 14 at Westfield UTC range from around $23 to $29, including processing fees. AMC's fee can, in some cases, be waived.

Both chains have loyalty clubs and discounts, including half-off tickets on some days.

Jon Stoeckly, an executive with Federal Realty, which owns the mall, said it was important to keep a mall at the theater.

"We know how important it is to the La Mesa community," he wrote in the news release. He pointed to the mall's ongoing modernization and said bringing in AMC "represents an exciting milestone that honors the center's legacy while creating new opportunities for people to connect, gather, and enjoy time together."

In the U.S., AMC operates approximately 660 theaters with 8,200 screens serving 265 million guests, its LinkedIn profile says. Once it opens the Grossmont theater, San Diego County will have 10 AMCs.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM.