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Amboy Cinemas Closes Temporarily
posted by
moviebuff82
on
June 6, 2005 at 7:51 am
The Amboy Multiplex Cinemas, the movie theatre known by many Garden State Parkway commuters as the multiplex near the highway, is temporarily closed (I think) due to flooring problems.
The theater, in existence since the late 1970’s, is owned by the same company, National Amusements, who owns the Hazlet, All-Jersey (Newark), and the newer Edgewater Multiplex Cinemas.
Comments (5)
National Amusements has closed Amboy Cinemas for good. It was determined that cost of the repair work would far outweigh the value of the theatres. As a former “part time” projectionist there AND at the drive-in which it replaced, I believe that there are many other factors figuring in the decision to close the place. It will be missed, but not on the same level as the old Menlo Cinema or Woodbridge Theatre.
The Amboy Multiplex closed without notice May 25 but most people didn’t find out until the start of a big moviegoing weekend (Memorial Day). By then the theater had already been removed from the National Amusements website.
Jerry is correct when he said there were “many other factors” involved. Construction for 3 nearby bridges made it more difficult to get to the theater. Also, the Loews megaplex at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth attracted a lot of people who used to go to the Amboy Multiplex.
That is a good thing. The Amboy Cinemas is one of the oldest multiplexes in New Jersey, and with its closing, it is the first major multiplex to be closed. Any more multiplexes being closed in the near future in New Jersey?
I would not be surprised if the incredible real estate boom in Middlesex county (and the Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Old Bridge and Sayerville areas in particular) may have made this a time to cash in on this large parcel of land. Once all that road construction is finished I bet this will be a desirable parcel for some retail developer. There is also a proposed Marriott resort about one mile away on Rt 35 right on the bay-if this happens I bet this whole area will go through big changes.
Well, eight and a half years since the last post, long after the road construction is finished, the theater still stands. Abandoned and undeveloped.