It appears that Marcus Theatres is taking an important step towards building its replacement for the Marcus Eastgate Cinemas in Madison, Wisconsin to a new location in Sun Prairie, just a few miles up Highway 151. The Sun Prairie Star is reporting that Marcus Theatres announced an agreement to purchase about 16 acres of land in the 100 acre Prairie Lakes development near the junction of Highway 151 and County Road C.

"The Prairie Lakes development is one of two sites in the Madison area we are contemplating," remarked Bruce J. Olson, president of Marcus Theatres.

"The Prairie Lakes site offers excellent visibility and accessibility and inclusion in a high-quality development. A final determination has not yet been made, but this site does offer additional options and flexibility to building an entertainment destination our guests will enjoy without the added challenge and financial risk of developing the surrounding property ourselves, which would be required with the other site," Olson added.

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Last week, the Wisconsin State Journal reported that Marcus was shifting its gaze from developing a property near Highway 151 and Nelson Road to the Sun Prairie location instead. The latter location did not require the amount of development of the former, and it also appears that Sun Prairie's government approvals process played a part in the decision as well.

Nothing is set in stone, however, as a Marcus real estate representative was not ready to confirm that the final choice of location was made. One would think that, especially in this economy, a company doesn't buy land without the intent to develop on it someday.

No matter which option Marcus intends to use, construction will probably not begin until Spring 2010, and other Marcus Theatres locations have taken about a year to be completed.