Citrus Heights, CA (MPG) - While the city has yet to receive an official application from the company, officials and some local business owners say there is serious interest by Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill to occupy a portion of the 90,000 square-foot Kmart building on Auburn Boulevard.

Devon Rodriguez, development specialist with the city said there is nothing yet to share publically about Studio Movie Grill, but confirmed they have come forward as an interested tenant that would share the site with Big Lots, said to still be interested in taking up a portion of the site. 

In late July, Rodriguez confirmed that Rebounderz trampoline fun center had pulled out of talks with the city to share the space with Big Lots.  Rebounderz was set to take up approximately 55,000 square-feet on the site, with plans to bring in a 24-hour, extreme fun center and a goal to open alongside Big Lots sometime in 2018.

With those plans off the table, Big Lots remains the only confirmed tenant to be in negotiations with the city.

Studio Movie Grill is considered an innovator in the in-theater dining movie concept, with roughly 24 locations across nine states, including California.  Studio Movie Grill offers movie-goers an in-theater dining experience with classic cocktails, beer, wine, burgers, chicken fingers, pasta dishes, salads and of course popcorn.

Rodriguez also said previously that the property owners are unable confirm whether Big Lots was still a contender as a future tenant, but there have been no announcements about its departure, yet.  Previous attempts to reach the company were unsuccessful and as vacancy rates seemingly rise at steady pace on the boulevard, there are concerns about that space taking so long to lease.

The site is viewed as a huge eyesore to many business owners on Auburn Boulevard and in the center itself, many of whom have jointly formed the Auburn Boulevard Business Association (ABBA), and are currently collaborating with the city to craft a vision for revitalizing the boulevard, which will, no doubt, carry heavy weight with city officials as they also move toward the completion of Phase II of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Revitalization Project.  

Phase II includes the stretch of the boulevard from Rush Park to the Roseville Boulevard and is not currently funded, according to city officials, and is not set to begin until 2019.