The first movie theatre on the West Coast to offer a full bar and seat-side drinks has moved its location from Belltown to Issaquah’s Old Town on 35 W Sunset Way.

Shortly after COVID-19 made its way to King County, the Belltown property owner mentioned to The Big Picture owners, Mark and Katie Stern, that they would be renting to a larger tenant, and had five weeks to move 22 years’ worth of equipment and furniture out.

The Sterns saw a for rent sign in a former pub across the street from Issaquah’s public library, which they chose as their new theatre location.

Mark is a third-generation movie theatre owner, with his grandfather having opened his first theatre in Chicago in 1927, and his father having opened numerous theatres across Chicago and its suburbs.

Mark began working in his father’s theatres during sophomore year of high school, and after earning a media studies degree at Northern Illinois University, he began managing three of his father’s theatres.

By 1999 Mark and Katie opened The Big Picture theatre in the heart of Seattle, with the goal of providing a luxurious experience to movie goers—separate from what chain theatres provide.

The Big Picture’s new Issaquah location is a 21+ venue and will contain a theatre section and a lounge section. The theatre section will hold 33 plush seats with cupholders and mini tablet arms, and front row seats with separate ottomans.

Additionally, the theatre section will feature Barco digital projection, and a Dolby Deluxe 7.1 surround sound system with 13 QSC Cinema Series speakers and two 18-inch subwoofers.

The lounge section will hold a capacity of 100, with soft and table seating, a full bar, and two large screen TVs—including a 7-foot television.

Food and drink will be delivered to guests in both the lounge and theatre sections. To represent Mark’s Chicago roots, the theatre will offer Chicago-style hotdogs. To avoid limiting business, The Big Picture will allow those without film tickets to come into the establishment for food and beverages.

The Big Picture plans to hold a grand opening in March with a showing of the film “The Batman,” although precise dates are not yet listed on their website.

For more information visit https://www.thebigpicture.net/