NORMAL - A Dallas company plans to bring a 14-screen, state-of-the-art cinema to Constitution Trail Centre in north Normal.

Starplex Cinemas could open its first Illinois theater late this year or early 2008, according to Darren Hicks, a principal in DKC Development Ventures, which is developing the center.

"The theater will be high-tech, have stadium seating and digital sound," Hicks said. "From an operational standpoint, it will be much better than what is already (in the Twin Cities)."

In addition to the theater, DKC Development also announced four new tenants for the 76-acre site at Main Street and Raab Road: Barbeck Communications, a Verizon Wireless retailer; Super Gyro's; Subway; and Great Clips.

While it will be the first Starplex Cinema in Illinois, the company operates 24 theaters with a total of 215 screens in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, Florida, Indiana and California.

The 44,679-square-foot cinema in Normal will have stadium high-back rocker seating in a tiered system - each row will be 14 to 18 inches higher than the one in front; digital surround sound; and wall-to-wall screens, according to information from Starplex.

Starplex Cinemas is the third theater company interested in locating at Constitution Trail Centre. Originally, Wehrenberg Theaters planned to bring a 15-screen theater to the site. The option with developers expired early last year. In April, Wehrenberg announced plans for a 14-screen theater in west Bloomington.

Meanwhile that same month, Terry Clauff, chief executive officer for Dial Properties, one of the partners of DKC, confirmed the company was negotiating with Carmike for a cinema. Hicks said during the November groundbreaking for Constitution Trail Centre that Carmike was no longer part of the plans.

Hicks said an acquaintance recently finished a deal with Starplex, so DKC decided to look into that option.

A plan for the cinema - on the northeast corner of the property - will have to be approved by the Normal City Council but Hicks said site preparation already is under way.

Meanwhile, the four other retailers will fill part of the two buildings to be constructed along Raab Road, said Leslie Guzinski, spokesman for Dial.

Super Gyro's, operated formerly as Niro's Gyros, will open its third Twin City location. The restaurant specializes in Chicago-style food including gyros and Italian beef sandwiches.

Subway, which features a variety of sandwiches salads and wraps, will bring its 14th Bloomington-Normal location to the center.

It will be the first Great Clips in the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis, Minn.-based company has 2,500 salons throughout the United States and Canada and offers haircuts for men, women and children.

Barbeck Communications specializes in Verizon wireless products and accessories. Doug Barding and Matthew Beck operate 12 locations throughout the state.

A 58,246-square-foot Schnucks Marketplace is under construction at the site. Other businesses previously announced for Constitution Trail Centre are Applebee's, Longhorn Steakhouse, Fashion Bug, the Fitness Store, Moe's Southwest Grill, Dollar Tree and AmericInn Lodge & Suites.