Cinema deal

After a nearly two-year search, Penn has found a partner to turn its movie theater from a coming attraction into a reality.

Penn has signed a lease with Cinebridge and National Amusements to bring “The Bridge: Cinema De Lux” to campus.

The six-screen theater, under construction at 40th and Walnut streets, will open by the end of this year and show first-run commercial and art films.

Vice President for Facilities Omar Blaik said you can expect “a higher level of service from the time you approach the theater.” Concierge services (to help you pick a flick) and valet parking, plus free parking, will be available.

And if popcorn won’t do, the cinema’s café may serve wine and cappuccinos. Blaik compared the café to a “high-quality tapas bar.”

Blaik said admission prices should be comparable to other cinemas’, and said Cinebridge and Penn are now exploring expanding the uses of the cinema for artistic and educational programs.