• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

CineBistro readies for February premiere

Cobb Theatres prepares to open luxury movie theater at Westfield Southgate Mall.


  • By Amanda Morales
  • | 12:29 p.m. January 8, 2016
  • Sarasota
  • News
  • Share

CineBistro general manager Jason Waganheim admits that he's in the minority that has yet to see Star Wars. 

Waganheim has been too busy preparing for the opening of the newest Cobb Theatres location, CineBistro at the Westfield Southgate Mall. 

Although an opening date has yet to be determined, the theater is on schedule to open in February. 

The individual theaters are receiving the finishing touches that include installing the screen that average in size of 16-feet by 38-feet. The luxury cinema is being finished to debut to the public will include seven screens with seating ranging from 80 to 90 per theater. All of which are equipped with leather reclining seats that were tailored for the CineBistro audience. 

"Every theatre we open, we push our technology whether it’s visual, our ambiance or our facility," Waganheim said. "So for the chairs this is our 3rd venue that we’ve done this with the chairs."

Other personalized touches for the Sarasota audience include a menu that reflects regional favorites like fish and seafood entrees.

"You cannot put out burgers and French fries and expect to have a happy clientele," Waganheim said. "The wine list is not run of the mill. We know there is an educated base and we want to provide for them."

In order to provide the promised luxury experience CineBistro has started accepting applications for employees. The job fair to fill the 120 positions will begin Monday, Jan. 11.

CineBistro Regional Operations Director Matt Russell leads a media tour of one of the nearly completed theaters.
CineBistro Regional Operations Director Matt Russell leads a media tour of one of the nearly completed theaters.
A screen is installed at CineBistro.
A screen is installed at CineBistro.
The bar and dining area of CineBistro is coming along.
The bar and dining area of CineBistro is coming along.
All of the seats in the theaters have attached tables and can recline.
All of the seats in the theaters have attached tables and can recline.

 

Latest News

Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in News

The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?
Sarasota city commissioners adopted an ordinance in 2021 to register and regulate vacation rentals in coastal communities.
  • December 11, 2025
Are complaints worth additional vacation rental oversight?
Construction of the Ritz-Carlton Residences II in The Quay. The project will add 78 condos to downtown.
  • December 11, 2025
Thousands of new residences are planned now and soon in downtown
An example of what a downtown Sarasota point-to-point shuttle might look like.
  • December 10, 2025
Short rides pitched to solve downtown Sarasota's parking woes

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now