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It's been seven years since shoppers here could catch a movie after hitting up the mall.

That could change come Nov. 16, when an 18-screen theater is scheduled to open near Four Seasons Town Centre.

This megaplex is called The Grand Theatre Four Seasons Station 18 — not to be confused with The Grande, its established competitor at Friendly Center. And it's part of an emerging project dreamed up by Koury Corp., the local developer that built and later sold the mall.

People at Koury are keeping mum on the details of Four Seasons Station, which could comprise as much as 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. The first two buildings, about a third of what Koury might build off Vanstory Street, could be finished in late spring, said Ron Mack, the company's executive vice president for retail.

"We've got a significant amount of interest from general retailers and restaurants, but no lease has been signed that I can release at this point," Mack said.

Those first two buildings could hold up to 20 businesses, likely to feed off traffic from the mall, convention center — and the new theater, which has more than 3,400 seats.

The Grand is part of a New Orleans-based regional chain called Southern Theatres, which opened a similar megaplex in Winston-Salem last year. The new Greensboro theater will include wall-to-wall screens, digital sound and stadium seating with rocker chairs and retractable arm rests.

It also will feature a party room, a game room and a cafe carrying bulk candy, hot dogs, pizza, coffee and frozen cappuccino, in addition to popcorn and basic theater food.

BBB revamps its Web site

Good news for all you savvy shoppers out there.

As part of a national campaign, the local Better Business Bureau has revamped its Web site to better help consumers find information about businesses and charities.

Triad businesses got a look at the new site and other changes to the BBB brand last week during a presentation at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center. The BBB's updated packaging includes a streamlined version of its torch logo and the motto "Start With Trust."

"The intent of a lot of this was to help consumers with a standardized presentation of the brand so, for instance, if they moved from one part of the country to another, the level of service and how they receive it will be the same," said Fred Howes, a spokesman for the BBB of Central North Carolina, here in Greensboro.

The local branch launched its new Web site, which is both sleeker and easier to use than the old one, on Oct. 1.

Along with the site came a new title for businesses affiliated with the BBB — such a company is now a "BBB Accredited Business" rather than a "BBB Member" — and an online directory of these accredited businesses.

Encouraged by consumers' seeking instant information online, the local BBB has tossed its printed Buyers Guide in favor of this Web directory. The site lets you look up a business and sort of one-stop shop, using links to find the company's BBB report, its Web site and phone numbers and a map of the company's location.

"What we had before was very basic," Howes said.

Consumers without Internet access still can call the BBB to ask whether a company is accredited, find out more about a business or charity and file a complaint about a business.

Visit the local BBB online at http://www.greensboro.bbb.org, or call them at 852-4240.

Lowes offers new pet line

Lowes Foods plans to launch a new line of pet products, called "Paws," this week.

The Wednesday launch will coincide with the start of weeklong discounts on pet food and supplies at all Lowes Foods stores. The Paws line of accessories, toys and food is an in-house brand geared to compete with national pet products the grocer already carries.

Also on Wednesday, Lowes plans to start its 13th annual Friends Feeding Friends food drive, which will last until Dec. 31. The company hopes to collect 700,000 pounds of food for America's Second Harvest food banks and other charities in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Shoppers can donate food in barrels at the front of each store. Items most needed include canned tuna, meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, stews, boxed rice, pasta, macaroni and cheese, protein bars and dry cereal. Customers also can donate greenpoints — the benefit points earned on most purchases at Lowes — or make cash donations at the registers.

Shoppers who use the Lowes Foods to Go online shopping program can purchase bags of food for donation online.

Do you have retail news for Michelle Jarboe? Call 373-7075 or send e-mail to mjarboe@news-record.com