Allan Blanks/MDN Lori Haagenstad, left, and her husband, Norman Haagenstad, operate the newly installed pop machine at AMC Dakota Square 9.

The aroma of freshly prepared popcorn along with recently added upgrades, continues to draw crowds to AMC Dakota Square 9.

Brandon Welsh, general manager of AMC Dakota Square 9, reported favorable reviews of the latest items installed.

“We have three new soda machines that offer 100 different flavors,” Welsh said. “We’ve also added self stand butter machines and I believe we are going to get a new menu renovation before the end of the year. We’ll be adding pizzas, sliders, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, pretzel bites and a new variety of concession items will be added hopefully by the fall.”

Norman Haagenstad, Devils Lake, decided to visit AMC Dakota Square 9 with his wife, Lori Haagenstad.

Prior to viewing “Ghost in the Shell,” the Haagenstads expressed delight when operating the latest soda machine added to the movie theater.

“We’ve always liked this movie theater and we really like the new machines because of all the new choices,” Haagenstad said “The machine was easy to operate, once you figured it out.”

While the Haagenstads buttered that popcorn with ease, Welsh said a few visitors are still adjusting to the new upgrades.

“Some people have never seen a free cell machine,” Welsh said. “I believe we are one of five or six establishments to have this in Minot. Some people are still figuring things out.”

As AMC Dakota Square 9 continues to make changes, Welsh reported that customers who purchased Carmike Cinema’s popcorn buckets will continue to benefit from their investment, as the movie theater will honor the bucket until the end of the year.