Frisco Cinemark theater will kick off construction at the tollway and U.S. 380

Four years after announcing the project, Cinemark is moving forward with plans for a big movie theater and retail complex on the Dallas North Tollway in Frisco.

The almost 12-acre project would be on the vacant southwest corner of the tollway and U.S. Highway 380.

Cinemark plans to build a 10-screen theater and two retail buildings with 13,000 square feet in the development, according to plans filed with the city.

It would be the first Frisco construction at the busy intersection of U.S. 380 and the tollway. With growth pushing north along the tollway corridor, several new retail projects are in the works along U.S. 380.

"We are happy to see plans are moving forward for Cinemark to develop a new 10-screen theater in Frisco," Jim Gandy, who heads the Frisco Economic Development Corp., said in an email. Show Full Story

Cinemark representatives did not respond to requests for more details.

Cinemark has 29 theaters in North Texas, including a Frisco location and three in Plano. The company, which has its headquarters in Plano, has 337 theaters and 4,544 screens in 41 states.

Back in 2013 when Cinemark announced plans for the Frisco theater, the area was still largely undeveloped.

The Cinemark theater complex was planned as the first phase of a 320-acre mixed-use development by Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises called Frisco North.

The planned development — which never moved forward — was to include significant retail, commercial and residential building.

Cinemark's theater will be at the southwest corner of Dallas North Tollway and U.S. Highway 380, in the lot on the lower left. (Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer)