May should be a merry month for theater-goers in Alabaster.

That’s because, according to Cam Ward, executive director of the Alabaster Industrial Development Board, this coming Memorial Day weekend, the AmStar Movie Theater will open in Shelby County’s largest new shopping center.

The Colonial Shopping Center developed by Colonial Properties Trust is located near the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 31 in Alabaster and includes 700,000 square feet.

In addition to the movie theater, other business to be located there and set to open by August include a Super Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Belks Department Store, Books-A-Million, Ruby Tuesday, Ross Department Store, R.J. Gators Restaurant, Chic-Fil-A, Old Navy and Bath Bed & Beyond.

&uot;The success of the shopping center has been wonderful,&uot; said Ward. &uot;I think the entire project is a testament to the healthy economy in Shelby County.

&uot;I think the shopping center is filling up very fast because of the tremendous opportunities for new businesses locating in Shelby County,&uot; Ward said.

He went on to say that the Colonial Shopping Center is something everyone in the community should be proud of because it is a sign that Shelby County is becoming an economic power, independent of Jefferson County.

Another shopping center recently built in Alabaster, Ward said, is the Whitestone Center, which has been open for nearly a full year.

It is a 250,000-square-foot facility anchored by a Publix grocery store and located on Highway 119 in the city.

He said other shopping centers being discussed in Shelby County include Hayes Market Place in Pelham and another shopping center across the interstate from that site