Students will be able to walk to D.C.’s most “state-of-the-art” movie theater with the scheduled opening of a 3,000-seat Loews Theater in Georgetown this week.

The theater, scheduled to open Friday, was supposed to open earlier this month but was delayed because of construction problems.

“I think that having a theater so close to campus will be cool,” freshman Justin Granger said. “I have been going all the way out to Pentagon City to watch first-run movies.”

The theater, the largest in District, will feature 14 oversized screens, stadium seating, an expanded concession menu, state-of-the-art projection and digital sound, officials said

Officials boasted the theater’s location, on the site of the former home of the historic Georgetown Incinerator, between Wisconsin Avenue and 31st Street. It will feature the restored incinerator’s 175-foot smokestack as the lobby backdrop.

The theater, spanning nearly 67,000 square feet, will be easily accessible from the Georgetown Metro Connection bus, and will have underground parking.

During the theater’s grand opening festivities later this year, free giveaways will include a Loews Cineplex Season Pass.

“Some lucky person is going to get to see films at the theater for free for an entire year,” said Sekita Ekrek, spokeswoman for the Loews project. “We’ll also be hosting Movie Madness $1 shows, with proceeds benefiting the mayor’s youth charity, called Life Pieces to Masterpieces.”

Ekrek said the theater should have a positive impact on the community.

“You can shop, dine and go to the movies at Loews all within walking distance,” Ekrek said. “In terms of local economics, the theater will add close to 100 jobs to the community.”

Retail store officials in Georgetown said the new theater will affect them both positively and negatively because it will draw more people to Georgetown will affect them both positively and negatively because it will draw more people to Georgetown during the day, but at night more people will go the movies than go shopping.

However, restaurant owners said they expect more profits as a result of the theater opening.

“People are going to go to dinner after the movie. I’m anticipating it to be open,” said Nourad Atika, manager of Pizzeria Uno in Georgetown.

Loews is one of GW’s major corporate sponsors this semester, supporting the Fall Film Series, Movie on the Quad and Fall Fest. Program Board leaders said Loews Georgetown provided giveaways, including posters, key chains, DVDs, videos and free movie passes, at events this year.

“Loews also gave away lots of cool stuff at Fall Fest,” said Beth Gelman, PB Corporate Relations chair. “They brought a TV and three stadium seats like the ones in the new theater so students could try them out.”

The Georgetown Metro Connection bus operates regularly from the Foggy Bottom Metro station and stops at the theater. The cost is 50 cents per ride.

Loews Georgetown will have a student rate of $7.50. Regular price is $9. Also, they are offering bargain matinees before 6 p.m. at $6.50, as well as for the first show on weekends and holidays.

“I’ve heard about its features,” sophomore Shinu Thomas said. “If I was going to the movies, that’s where I’ll go.”

-Alex Kingsbury contributed

to this report.