Port Blakely Communities took another important step forward in their cultivation of a residential and commercial community in the Issaquah Highlands, with the announcement this week that Regal Entertainment Group will open a 14 screen, 64,000 square foot theater there in May 2011.

The state-of-the-art theatre will be named Regal Cinemas Issaquah Highlands Stadium 14.

A difficult economic environment has slowed the development of the highly touted new neighborhood.

The anticipated construction of a campus of Microsoft has yet to occur, and earlier this year The Central Market grocery store, which was scheduled to open in the Issaquah Highlands in 2010, shelved its plans altogether.

On the positive side, Swedish Medical Center is only a few months behind their initial plans to open a hospital in Highlands in late 2010.

The announcement that a major entertainment venue is on the drawing board will be great news for residents, some of whom were starting to wonder when the community they were promised would fully blossom.

This summer openings two new restaurants opened in the Highlands: a Zeeks Pizza franchise and Agave Cocina & Tequilas.

Most recently, Proliance Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine opened a new 43,000 square foot facility in the community.

“Issaquah Highlands’ commercial district is expanding on both the retail and commercial fronts and we look forward to welcoming Regal’s new state-of-the-art theatre,” said Alan Boeker, President of Port Blakely Communities.

Regal Cinemas Issaquah Highlands will feature stadium seating in all auditoriums.

The theatre will be located at Park Drive and High Street, and 10th Avenue and Highlands Drive.