If you’ve lived in the Twin Cities for more than a minute, you know the drill. It’s February, the wind chill is making your face hurt, and you've already binged everything on Netflix. You need out. For a lot of us, that escape hatch has always been the Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park. It’s tucked into the West End, that walkable, upscale-ish hub that feels a bit like a movie set itself.
But honestly? The movie theater business has been through the ringer lately. Between the streaming wars and the long shadow of the pandemic, a lot of screens went dark. Yet, the ICON is still standing. It’s not just surviving; it’s kind of the gold standard for what a modern cinema experience should actually feel like. It isn't just about the popcorn. It's about the fact that sometimes, you just want to sit in a giant heated recliner and have someone bring you a decent bourbon while you watch things explode on a screen the size of a garage door.
The West End Vibe and Why Location Matters
The Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park isn't some standalone building in the middle of a sea of asphalt. That's the first thing people get wrong. It’s the anchor of the Shops at West End. You’ve got the Local right there for a pre-show pint, or Yard House if you want to choose from a hundred different beers.
Location is everything. Because let’s be real: going to the movies is an event again. It has to be. If it’s not an event, people just stay on their couches. The ICON benefits from being in a spot where you can actually make a night of it. You park in the ramp—which is free, thank god—and you’re steps away from the lobby.
The lobby itself doesn’t feel like a sticky-floored multiplex from 1995. It’s got this sleek, glass-heavy, almost hotel-lobby aesthetic. It’s polished. Sometimes maybe a little too polished for a Tuesday afternoon, but when you’re paying $15 to $20 for a ticket, you want the place to look like it was cleaned in the last decade.
The Kerasotes Legacy
Wait, who actually owns this place? It’s Kerasotes Showplace Theatres. They’ve been around since 1909. Think about that. They were showing silent films when Taft was in the White House. The St. Louis Park location is their flagship in this region.
They didn't just build a box; they built a "Showplace." That’s why you see the "ICONIC" branding everywhere. It’s a specific play for the luxury market. While AMC was busy trying to figure out how to sell more memberships, Kerasotes focused on making the actual room you sit in feel like a premium lounge.
What’s the Deal with ICONIC vs. General Admission?
This is where people usually get confused. If you’re looking at tickets for the Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park, you’ll see different tiers.
Basically, you have the ICONIC VIP experience and then the standard seating. But "standard" here is a bit of a misnomer. Even the regular seats are better than what you’ll find at a budget theater.
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The VIP sections are generally restricted to the 21+ crowd for certain screenings or specific auditoriums. This is a game-changer. No offense to kids, but sometimes you want to watch a three-hour historical epic without someone's toddler practicing their gymnastics routine in the aisle.
- The Recliners: These aren't those old-school rockers. They are full-power recliners. You can practically lie flat.
- Heat: Some of the seats have heat settings. If it's -10°F outside, a heated leather chair is basically a spiritual experience.
- Privacy: The way the rows are tiered, you aren't staring at the back of some tall guy's head. The sightlines are calculated. It’s engineering, not just luck.
The Lobby Lounge: More Than Just Sour Patch Kids
Let’s talk about the Lobby Lounge. It’s located on the upper level. Most theaters have a concession stand where a teenager looks at you with soul-crushing boredom while they scoop lukewarm popcorn.
ICON has that, sure, but they also have a full bar.
You can get a Margherita pizza. You can get sliders. You can get a cocktail that actually has real spirits in it. And here is the kicker: you can take it all into the theater with you.
There’s a specific kind of luxury in eating a plate of decent calamari while watching a summer blockbuster. It’s a bit ridiculous. It’s definitely extra. But that’s the point. The ICON sells the "extra."
Technical Specs (For the Nerds)
If you care about pixels and decibels, the Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park usually stays ahead of the curve. They use Barco laser projection.
Why does that matter?
Traditional lamp projectors lose brightness over time. If you’ve ever been to a theater where the movie looked "dim" or "muddy," it was probably an old bulb. Laser projection stays crisp. The blacks are actually black, not dark gray.
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Then there’s Dolby Atmos.
Instead of just "left" and "right" speakers, Atmos treats sound like objects in a 3D space. If a helicopter flies overhead in the movie, you hear it moving across the actual ceiling of the auditorium. It’s immersive. It makes you jump. It reminds you why your home soundbar, no matter how much you paid for it, is just "okay."
The "Secret" to Saving Money There
Look, it’s expensive. Between the ticket, the parking (well, parking is free, but you’ll probably buy a drink), and the popcorn, you’re dropping some cash.
But there’s a workaround. The Extras Club.
It’s their loyalty program. It’s free to join. Most people skip it because they don't want more emails, but if you go even twice a year, it’s worth it. You get discounted tickets on Tuesdays—usually significantly cheaper than the weekend rate.
Also, they do "Bargain Days" and early bird specials. If you’re willing to see a movie at 11:00 AM on a Sunday, you can experience the luxury for about the price of a fast-food meal.
Real Talk: The Friction Points
It’s not all perfect. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s a flawless utopia.
Sometimes the service in the lounge can be slow. If there’s a massive Marvel premiere and everyone wants a martini at the same time, expect a wait.
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The app can be a little clunky. Buying tickets online is fine, but sometimes the interface feels like it was designed in 2014.
And yeah, the "21+ only" rule for VIP sections is strictly enforced. Don't try to bring your 19-year-old cousin in just because they look mature. Security will catch it, and it'll be awkward for everyone.
Why This Specific Theater Matters to St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park is in this weird transition phase. It’s becoming the "cool" suburb. It’s where people who are tired of Minneapolis parking but still want "city" amenities go.
The Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park fits that identity perfectly. It’s sophisticated enough for a date night but accessible enough for a random Tuesday night solo trip. It represents a shift in how we consume media. We don't go to the movies to "see a movie" anymore—we have 70-inch TVs for that. We go for the "ICONic" experience.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
If you're planning to head out there this weekend, don't just wing it.
- Download the App First: Even if I just complained about it, it’s better than waiting in line at the kiosk. Pick your seats in advance. The center-back of the VIP section in the larger auditoriums is the "sweet spot" for both sound and vision.
- Arrive 20 Minutes Early: If you want to use the lounge, give yourself a buffer. Ordering a hot meal takes time, and you don't want to be fumbling with a pizza box in the dark while the opening credits are rolling.
- Check the Auditorium Number: Not all rooms are created equal. Some are smaller "boutique" screens. If you want the massive, soul-shaking experience, look for the screenings labeled "XDL" (Extreme Digital Loft). That’s their version of IMAX, and it’s massive.
- Validate Nothing: One of the best parts about the West End is the parking ramp. You don't need a stamp or a scan. Just park and walk.
- The Popcorn Trick: They have a self-serve seasoning station. It’s a small thing, but being able to dump a mountain of white cheddar powder on your popcorn without asking permission is one of life’s simple joys.
The Future of Cinema in the Suburbs
Is the ICON going anywhere? Probably not.
They’ve carved out a niche that’s hard to replicate. You can’t get that specific mix of luxury, technology, and location at a standard suburban megaplex. It’s a destination.
The next time you're debating whether to stay home or head to the Showplace ICON Theatre in St. Louis Park, just remember: your couch doesn't have a professional-grade laser projector, and your kitchen probably doesn't have a bartender waiting to make you a pre-movie Old Fashioned.
Go for the XDL screen. Sit in the middle. Put the seat heater on "low." It’s worth the twenty bucks.
Next Steps for Your Visit
- Check the current showtimes on the official Kerasotes website to see which films are playing in the XDL format.
- Sign up for the Extras Club before you buy tickets to immediately unlock the member pricing for your first visit.
- Explore the West End directory to pick a dinner spot within walking distance so you can leave your car in the ramp for the whole evening.