Lakewood Cinema 8.

LAKEWOOD — Lakewood Cinema 8 is set to reopen Friday, April 23. The Buffalo-based Dipson Theatres, which operates Chautauqua Mall Cinema I and II, Warren Mall Cinema, and the Lakewood theater, made the announcement via its website.

In order to reopen, Dipson Thatres said it will follow CinemaSafe protocols which were developed by the National Association of Theater Owners with the help of leading epidemiologists. Some of these include the frequent sanitization of surfaces, a theater capacity of 25%, or 50 patrons, and temperature readings for all staff prior to starting work.

There will also be reduced amount of showtimes to allow better cleaning of the cinema and to slow the rate of traffic in and out of theaters. Face masks are mandated in all situations but can be pulled down to drink and eat once in a seat.

Tickets are now available for several showings — including “Tom & Jerry” and “Godzilla vs. Kong” — beginning April 23, and, in following the CinemaSafe protocols, Dipson is recommending customers to purchase their tickets online to limit person-to-person contact.

The reopen date is earlier than the projected May date given previously by Bryan Spokane, vice president of Dipson Theatres, earlier this year. The two other local theaters in operation by Dipson have not officially reopened yet, but Warren Cinema is open for private bookings.

Elsewhere, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown resumed showing movies last week.