Maya Cinemas Scheduled to Open Friday, Bring Jobs to Area

Maya Cinemas next to Fresno State is getting ready to open its doors to the public, bringing extra jobs to the community.

Wednesday evening, community members celebrated the opening of the Maya Cinemas with a ribbon cutting. The cinema is scheduled to open to the public Friday.

It’s a project that has been several years in the making.

"We’re very proud that this is a completely ground up construction. A lot of people have gotten work here. There’s going to be a lot of jobs–probably more than 1,000 jobs that are going to be here (in the development)," said Moctesuma Esparza, the CEO of Maya Cinemas.

The Maya Cinemas is the anchor of the development called The Square at Campus Pointe right next to Fresno State.

President Dr. Joseph Castro said it’s the largest public-private development next to a CSU, offering entertainment, retail, and restaurants.

"It will enable our community to be even more dynamic and vibrant, and it will provide them with things that they can do that are fun to complement the hard work that they are doing on the campus," Castro said.

For students, it will fill a void.

Fresno State student Anthony Farnesi, vice president of the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), said having the development within walking distance of the campus will have a huge, positive impact on student life.

"We have a lot of students who do live around the campus and very near the campus, so not having to rely on a car is really great," Farnesi said.

The development is benefitting the whole community, said Fresno Councilman Paul Caprioglio.

"The Fresno State university is the crown jewel of my district, and this (the development) is the diamond," Caprioglio said.

Already, Caprioglio said, the project has generated millions in the construction phase before even opening–"$ 32 to $ 34 million in the District 4 of Fresno, not to mention the entire city."

The cinema also plans to support a scholarship program for students, "Dollar for a Scholar, where they’ll match donations made by moviegoers and companies.