Big screen dreams are coming true in the Spa City as a new development will bring a long-awaited movie theater. And as our Lori Chung reports, officials expect it to be a hit.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It's no longer really a fit with the upscale buildings sprouting up in downtown Saratoga Springs. And it's here at the site of the old Price Chopper on Railroad Place that developers are planning a new movie theater - the first one in the Spa City since 1979.

Bonacio Construction President Sonny Bonacio said, "Started looking at this project seven year ago, and then this was the piece that we were really hoping we could lure an operator."

Now, Bow Tie Cinemas has signed on to bring its unique approach to the theater experience with plans to build Criterion Cinemas Saratoga Springs.

Bow Tie Cinemas owner Ben Moss said, "We'll also feature a cafe that serves beer and wine."

The new movie theater continues with the development that started with the new Price Chopper, all part of an effort to keep Saratoga Springs walkable and friendly to pedestrians.

Bonacio said, "It's great to see the people walking around downtown still at 10:30, 11 o'clock at night, and we knew that there would be demand for an additional venue in downtown Saratoga."

Bow Tie Cinemas Chief Operating Officer Joe Masher said, "We'll have 11 screens. We'll have the BTX, Bow Tie Extreme auditorium which is our proprietary large format auditorium with about a 2,000 square foot screen and 30,000 watts of pure digital sound."

The $18 million project will be modeled after Movieland in Schenectady which the company opened in 2007. Given the growth in this area, developers say it's a no brainer to invest in quality of life here.

Developers say they expect to have the new Criterion Cinemas open for business by the end of next spring.