Wichita movie theaters report mass layoffs ahead of coronavirus reopening

More than 100 Wichita movie-theater employees will lose their jobs in Wichita in the next 60 days, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

Regal Cinemas will lay off 58 workers at Regal Warren East, near 13th Street and Greenwich, and 47 workers at the Regal Warren West, near 21st Street and Tyler.

The national movie theater chain temporarily closed its Wichita theaters more than a month ago, on March 17, ahead of a state stay-at-home order that has shuttered businesses deemed nonessential for survival, such as movie theaters.

Gov. Laura Kelly is expected to announce a reopening plan Thursday evening that allows businesses to reopen as long as they can maintain social distancing practices and follow so-far undefined cleaning and public health practices.

It’s unclear how movie theaters will be affected or whether it makes sense for the businesses to reopen.

The largest movie theater in the country, Leawood, Kan.-based AMC Theatres, announced last week that it would not reopen its more than 1,000 theaters — including in Wichita — until Hollywood studios start releasing hit movies again, which some predict could be July 17 release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenent” or Disney’s “Mulan” on July 24, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Attempts to contact Regal representatives on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Under federal law, companies are required to provide 60 days of notice to employees if they plan to layoff a third of their workforce, discontinue an operating unit of 50 or more workers, lay off 500 or more workers at a single employment site or close a facility with 50 or more workers.