Showcase Cinema de Lux Legacy Place
670 Legacy Place
Dedham, MA 02026
Phone: 781-326-2100
Website:
http://www.nationalamusements.com/
Recently, my friends Kellie, Kevin and I went to the new Showcase Cinema de Lux that opened in August at Legacy Place in Dedham. We were curious to see how wheelchair accessible this new cinema is and were delighted to find it very wheelchair friendly and accessible.
The Showcase Cinema de Lux has 15 screens; three are equipped with 3D Digital Cinema Projection systems. It also offers a premium, reserved-seating in the Lux Level in four screens, which has in-seat dining; the Lux Level Lounge where patrons can relax before or after the show and enjoy appetizers and beverages, including cocktails; and Studio 3 Restaurant & Bar.
Two handicap parking spaces are located outside in front of the building. There’s also a parking garage for Legacy Place plaza with an overpass that leads to the building where the showcase cinema is located on the second floor.
The outside entrance doors and the overpass doors from the building to the garage are not automatic. Kellie had to hold the door open while Kevin pushed my manual chair inside. An elevator led us up to the second floor. Around the corner down the hallway there is an automatic doors introducing us to the actual theater.
Pass the doors you’ll see an accessible touch screen transaction monitor to order tickets and very convenient and time saving for you don’t have to wait in a long line. The ticket counter ahead to the left is wheelchair accessible. After purchasing the tickets you can see a piano at the main lobby playing by itself and as you get closer you can see the keys automatically playing.
All the concession stands have an accessible counter where you can easily place and pay for your food or drink. The condiment counter is also of a good wheelchair accessible height. All areas within the cinema are accessible with sloped floors or accessible ramps for easy wheelchair access.
In the main lobby there’s a restaurant called Studio 3; there is a beautiful ramp leading into this restaurant .The atmosphere is very sophisticated and elegant; all white in color; it’s a very classy looking place. There are plenty of accessible tables that are of a perfect wheelchair accessible height. The bar even has a lower section for persons in wheelchairs! We will definitely be back here for lunch or a drink sometime soon.
At the center of the lobby, there are four satellite restaurants; Cafe de Lux, Ben & Jerry’s, Famiglia and Nathan’s: all which have accessible counters. You can enjoy a delicious meal in any of the two lounge/dining areas located at either side of the concession stand with accessible tables. The counter at the concession stand is also is also of an accessible height.
The Lux level part of Showcase Cinema de Lux is located at the upper level by taking an accessible elevator from the lobby. There’s a lounge/bar restaurant with plenty of accessible tables and a nice lounge area. The bar here also has a wheelchair accessible section.
The Lux level is for 21 plus and the seating are above the regular theaters. The seats are luxurious with a side table and a service button; you can eat and drink alcohol while watching a movie. These tickets are expensive. There are accessible spaces for wheelchairs and an employee told me if a customer in a wheelchair prefers to stay in their own chair, they would bring a table to place in front of the person and they can use the button on the seat next to them for service.
Kevin, Kellie and I watched the movie, The Christmas Carol in 3D in one of the regular theaters. I really enjoyed this movie. The distance from the accessible space and screen is a great view. The seats, as you can see in the picture, are labeled with a handicap sign if a person in a wheelchair came with a companion.
There are several restrooms throughout the cinema which are all spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant. The faucets, soap and towel dispensers are all easy to reach.
I give Showcase Cinema De Lux FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic door at the outside entry door and at the overpass doors leading from the garage to building so a person in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:16 am
This place is great! I haven’t been there because I don’t live in the US, but I do like reading your reviews so I know where to go if I do travel there. I do like how they thought of making areas that are not usually accessible accessible, such as the lowered bar area! It sure beats having to use a bar stool that people has sat on as your table!
The Lux level is pretty cool too, but when seated is it hard to see the screen from there? Are you sitting sideways etc.? Also it’s great that the wheelchair seating area is not way at the back or way up front. There has been movie theaters where I’ve been in the very back on a higher level than the people I was with with big bars all around me. It was horrible!
December 10th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Hi Wildcat, I love the lower bar area too and know how awful it is to use a stool as a table ! I’m seated face forward in the Lux Level. I didn’t watch a movie in the Lux but tested out the view of the movie screen which was great. I don’t like to sit far in the back either because I don’t get a good view of the screen. This theatre is WONDERFUL!! If you ever visit the U.S…let me know.