Empire Theaters has added two locations in Manitoba to its chain, buying theaters in Brandon and Winkler from co-owner Landmark Cinemas.

Effective Oct. 31, the Halifax-based chain will be full owner of the nine-screen Capitol Theatre in Brandon and the five-screen Southland Theatre in Winkler, a small city of some 10,000 people to the southwest of Regina.

Until now, the theaters have been co-owned and managed through a joint effort with Landmark.

‘The addition of these two locations helps to strengthen our presence in Manitoba and is an excellent complement to our Grant Park operation in Winnipeg,’ said Empire VP Dean Leland in a statement. The chain holds 52 theaters, adding up to 386 screens, across Canada.