Shopping and a movie will be much easier when North Point Mall opens a new movie theater. The mall's owner got the Alpharetta Planning Commission's backing on the plan.

General Growth Properties asked to be allowed to renovate the old Parisian store, which is between the Von Maur and Macy's. The two-story, 85,000-square-foot vacant store would be converted into a 45,500-square-foot movie theater. It would be a first-run theater with 12 screens and 1,790 seats, said Wendy Butler, local attorney for the mall owner.

The exterior storefront would be renovated with an 18-foot extension on the western frontage to accommodate the box office and entrance. a drop off lane would be added to serve the theater.

The theater would not have an entrance through the interior of the mall, said General Growth's Ken Labarre. The movie theater operators don't want a second entrance for security reasons. But Labarre said automated ticket kiosks will be installed inside the mall.