Construction of a 42,000-square-foot movie theater has begun at Chesapeake Square Mall and is expected to be completed by December.

The new Cinemark 12-screen, stadium-seating theater will sit in place of the former Dillard’s store, which closed in 2009.

The theater is part of an expansion of Chesapeake Square Mall that aims to revitalize the shopping center to compete from the nearby shopping and movie opportunities at Harbour View.

The mall’s owner, Simon Property Group, was awarded $750,000 from the city of Chesapeake in November for the theater’s construction.

“The city of Chesapeake and Simon Property Group collaborated closely over the many months to ensure that Chesapeake Square Mall remains a vibrant retail hub in the community,” said Chesapeake’s Director of Economic Development Steven Wright.

As part of the plan, the Chesapeake Economic Development Authority will purchase the current Cinemark 10 theater.

The new theaters will offer the latest technologies and exceptional amenities, such as enhanced sound systems, 100 percent digital projection and an XD Extreme Digital Cinema auditorium.

The XD theater will be the largest in the facility and boast a wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor screen, plush seating and a custom sound system. It will show both 2D and 3D new releases.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to add Cinemark to the project and look forward to future opportunities to strengthen the center and diversify the offerings at the center,” said Rod Vosper, vice president of development for Simon.