This was Regal 3 renovation of the theatre and theatre 12 is 296 which is 4DX. Please update current total seats is now 1590. The updated seat count with additional seating due to RPX and 4DX getting more seats.
It looks like this theatre not getting Screen X like Union Squre, they took down the sign in the lobby and posted photos of the construction. No more Loews anywhere in the complex.
Jamaica Multiplex to close April 30
Many people are shocked by loss; some blame inflation and streaming
by Naeisha Rose, Associate Editor Feb 1, 2024
Showcase Cinemas, a global chain that manages movie theaters across the country, has told the Chronicle via email that Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will cease operations on Tuesday, April 30, about two months earlier than what has been reported over the past few weeks.
“Members of our Starpass loyalty program will receive a special offer as a way to thank them for their many years of movie-going at Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas,” said a marketing and partnerships representative of the chain. “Showcase Cinemas remains deeply committed to our theatrical exhibition business and we look forward to continuing to provide a superior movie-going experience at our U.S. cinema locations.”
When asked why the multiplex, located at 159-02 Jamaica Ave., is closing, the representative said the move follows a failure to come to terms with the landlord on a new lease agreement.
Michael Mattone, CEO of Mattone Investors, LLC, the owner of the building that houses the movie theater, told the Chronicle there was no dispute with Showcase Cinemas.
“Their lease terms came to an end,” Mattone said. “They were there for 20 years and then we gave them an extension. That extension basically expired and they decided not to seek an additional term.”
When asked about the April 30 end date, Mattone said he had been told it was June.
“That’s news to me,” said Mattone, who opened up a JD Sports next door to the multiplex two weeks ago.
As for whether he will work with a different movie chain or replace the business with a retailer, the CEO said he has a couple of things in the works.
“I am not at liberty to get into the details on those just yet,” Mattone said. “Those range from maintaining it as a theater to change of use … [Details] coming soon to a theater near you.”
Several people were shocked and dismayed on Monday to learn that Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will be closing.
The move comes on the heels of Brooklyn’s Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas’ closure on Jan. 2 and the announcement that College Point Multiplex Cinemas will close May 7 and eventually be replaced by a logistics center.
According to multiple reports, Showcase Cinemas, owned by National Amusements, which owns all three theaters, has been shuttering movie houses across the country due to the rise of streaming, low foot traffic since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and expiring lease agreements.
“I think another theater would be good,” passerby Javonte Wooten said when asked by the Chronicle if there should be a new business or another moviehouse. “I actually live near where the Linden Boulevard theater just closed. Those are staples in our community.”
Wooten, who works for the city Department of Health in Queens, said there are not a lot of places to take kids and she is sad to see both theaters go.
“I have attended this one plenty of times and it has always been pretty nice, but I know it is not busy at all,” she added. “I can understand that after the pandemic that all of the theaters are getting shut down, but it is a sad era to take place with streaming and everything.”
A Brooklyn woman in her 50s said that she is a live-in nurse aide and does not get to go out a lot, so she watches movies via cable TV.
“I want it to stay the same because I’ve been coming here since I was 5 or 6,” said a 23-year-old Ozone Park woman. “We come here all the time.”
She said she does not want to see the multiplex get replaced by a different theater chain or a retailer.
A third woman from Brooklyn who works in Queens, found the news to be terrible.
“We need a theater right here in Jamaica,” she said. “It was my go-to theater right after work.”
Sheryl Virtue of Deer Park, LI, said she is not a cinemagoer but feels that movie theaters are a great place for young people to gather.
“I’m not a movie person … but for those that are into movies, I don’t think it is a good thing,” Virtue said. “Sometimes this is where [youths] get to hang out with their parents or their peers.”
Janet Henry of the Bronx said that there should be a smaller multiplex in the building that houses the theater as well as a new retailer that will draw people to the moviehouse and the area.
“Inflation is really high too; perhaps if they cut prices a little bit,” Henry said. “When people can get things at a lower cost, they will try to make use of it.”
Joel Raceral of Cambria Heights did not feel any particular way about the multiplex closing because of the lack of quality films.
“I don’t really go to the movie theater often,” Raceral said. “There isn’t anything really interesting for me to watch anymore.”
Fabiola Labonche of Jamaica had mixed feelings about the closure. She was sorry to hear the theater is closing, but liked the potential of a new type of business replacing it so there will be more jobs in the region.
“I’m sad because I enjoy going there,” she said. “But it can be an Amazon. We don’t have it here. I need a job. Just put an Amazon here.”
From Alamo Drafthouse
Since first opening its doors in 2016, our Downtown Brooklyn location has been a cornerstone of our little cinema company. It was our first foray into NYC, and we’re extremely proud of the community of moviegoers that have built up around it – but even the Mona Lisa needs to get some work done every once in a while. On February 5th and 6th, we’ll be closing our doors to begin work on a comprehensive remodel and expansion, including new seats, more screens, new projectors, and more bathrooms.
First up, the seats. Every single auditorium will be getting a plushy, ultra-comfy upgrade in the form of premium recliner seats. Not only will they be more comfortable and afford you a better view of the screen, they each come with their own swivel table. Now you can swing your popcorn and beer right to your face, just as the good lord intended. We’ll be updating our seats a few auditoriums at a time, but we plan to have the first batch installed and ready for your butt soon.
In addition to the updates we’re making to our existing auditoriums, we’ll be doing a massive five screen expansion. This nearly doubles our screen count, which means more movies and more awesome events for you. It also means more bathrooms, as we’ll be adding a few more of those by our new auditoriums as well.
Every auditorium will also be getting a big upgrade in the form of state-of-the-art Laser projectors, with select auditoriums receiving RealD 3D, 70mm, and 35mm capabilities.
As always, we’ll continue to do everything we can to provide you the best cinema experience possible, but we kindly ask that you be patient with us and excuse any dust. After we open back up on 2/07 we’ll be running a limited menu through 2/13 of appetizers, pizzas, drinks, and a few other favorites. This will allow us to continue to provide the best service possible throughout the renovation process, but we apologize if your burger cravings go unsated for a little while.
That’s it for now, but be sure to check back here and our social channels for all the latest updates on Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn’s transformation. Until then, we’ll see you at the movies (just not on 2/05 or 2/06).
By Saleah Blancaflor | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Warner Theater, a longstanding movie theater in Ridgewood, will permanently close and cease operations following its evening showtimes on Sunday, its parent company Bow Tie Partners announced in a press release Monday.
The theater opened in 1932 as a single-screen cinema, featuring the premiere of “The Dark Horse” starring Bette Davis. In 1978, the space expanded to two screens, and in 1984, two more screens were added. Bow Tie Partners acquired The Warner Theater in 2013, and its affiliate, Bow Tie Cinemas, has operated it for the last decade.
The theater’s shuttering follows struggles related to the pandemic, Bow Tie said — a familiar tale which caused dramatic changes to the movie theater business, particularly older venues. The Bergen County theater “is no longer viable at this location,” the statement said.
Bow Tie said it plans to remain part of the downtown Ridgewood is considering options for redevelopment of the movie theater space, including use as a performing arts venue.
“We offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of our loyal customers who, over the past 11 years, have provided us the honor of hosting them at the movies in Ridgewood,” said Ben Moss, Owner of Bow Tie Partners, in a statement. “We are very much looking forward to remaining a part of the vibrant downtown Ridgewood business community and look forward to announcing our future plans when we have finished our analysis of alternative uses.”
Currently, there are no other Bow Tie Cinemas operating in New Jersey.
Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at . Follow her on Twitter @saleyley and Instagram.
Jamaica movie theater set to close in June, while future of College Point theater in doubt By Iryna Shkurhan Posted on January 3, 2024
Queens is set to lose one of its few remaining movie theaters this year, and another one appears in jeopardy, amid a nationwide decline in the big screen industry.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will shut down in June, according to the Mattone Group Jamaica Company, a real estate investment firm that spearheaded bringing the theater to Jamaica, and also managed it over the past two decades. Meanwhile, the College Point Multiplex Cinemas, just five miles away, looks slated to close, with reports emerging last week that developers are in the process of transforming the cinema site into a distribution center.
The parent company of the two theaters, Showcase Cinemas, notified the owner of the Jamaica property last month that it does not plan on renewing the lease. Showcase initially signed on for a 20-year lease in 2002, and then received a short two-year extension in 2022, which is set to expire in June.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, a 15-plex cinema located on Jamaica Avenue, opened in May 2002 – the same month that the original Spider-Man movie was released. When the cinema first opened its doors, the operators were still running movies on giant rolls of film.
“We hate to see it go. It’s unfortunate, but a sign of the times,” said Michael Mattone, who recounted breaking ground on the previously vacant lot where Jamaica Center now stands in 2000. “We were hoping that they would stay, but I can’t say it came as a total surprise.”
Showcase Cinemas is owned by National Amusements, which collectively owns 1,500 theaters across the world under a variety of theater brands including Cinema de Lux and Multiplex Cinemas. Its theaters in the United States are almost exclusively in the Northeast.
The company has closed several theaters in the past year but has yet to formally announce the closure of the Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas. The future of the College Point Multiplex Cinemas appears in doubt. Last week, New York YIMBY reported that the real estate development firm, Triangle Equities, secured $50 Million in financing for a logistics facility on the 425,000-square-foot site where the theater on Ulmer St. is currently located.
The current plan is to redevelop the nine-acre area into a multi-story distribution center, given its central location and proximity to major roadways. The site is also home to Party Wow, a party supply store, and used to have a Toys “R” Us before it filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
Meanwhile, other theaters operated by Showcase Cinemas across the state have recently closed.
Tuesday marked the last day that the Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in East New York was open to moviegoers.
A statement on its website read, “It has been our pleasure to serve the Brooklyn community with great movie-going for many years. Due to a business decision, January 2, 2024 will be our last day of cinema operations. Showcase Cinemas is committed to providing a superior movie-going experience and we hope to see you at our Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas and College Point Multiplex Cinemas locations. Thank you for your patronage.”
But despite the company’s message to encourage moviegoers to visit its other locations, it appears that both Queens locations won’t be open for long.
QNS reached out to National Amusements for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.
The closures are part of a nationwide trend that left the industry scrambling to sell tickets amid a rise in streaming services, and then the pandemic further hurt the industry with temporary closures.
“Whereas other theaters did rebound. I don’t know that Jamaica really rebounded as well as some of the other theaters,” said Mattone. “So I think that may have also been part of some of the decision making.”
Mattone said that his investment group has already held preliminary conversations with other theater companies to explore the possibility of keeping a movie theater in Jamaica. But he couldn’t comment just yet on the specific companies in consideration. They are also considering other types of retailers. But he added that bringing in another theater tenant would be the most seamless option.
“I can’t think of the last new theater that opened in the area,” said Mattone. “There’s really been no new theaters that have opened in Queens in god knows how long.”
Queens residents who are looking to watch a movie on the big screen still have some options.
AMC has locations in Bay Terrace and Fresh Meadows. Regal UA also has theaters in Astoria and Forest Hills. There are also small independent theaters sprinkled throughout the borough such as the Cinemart Cinemas in Forest Hills and Fair Theater in East Elmhurst.
Jamaica movie theater set to close in June, while future of College Point theater in doubt By Iryna Shkurhan Posted on January 3, 2024
Queens is set to lose one of its few remaining movie theaters this year, and another one appears in jeopardy, amid a nationwide decline in the big screen industry.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will shut down in June, according to the Mattone Group Jamaica Company, a real estate investment firm that spearheaded bringing the theater to Jamaica, and also managed it over the past two decades.
Meanwhile, the College Point Multiplex Cinemas, just five miles away, looks slated to close, with reports emerging last week that developers are in the process of transforming the cinema site into a distribution center.
The parent company of the two theaters, Showcase Cinemas, notified the owner of the Jamaica property last month that it does not plan on renewing the lease. Showcase initially signed on for a 20-year lease in 2002, and then received a short two-year extension in 2022, which is set to expire in June.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, a 15-plex cinema located on Jamaica Avenue, opened in May 2002 – the same month that the original Spider-Man movie was released. When the cinema first opened its doors, the operators were still running movies on giant rolls of film.
“We hate to see it go. It’s unfortunate, but a sign of the times,” said Michael Mattone, who recounted breaking ground on the previously vacant lot where Jamaica Center now stands in 2000. “We were hoping that they would stay, but I can’t say it came as a total surprise.”
Showcase Cinemas is owned by National Amusements, which collectively owns 1,500 theaters across the world under a variety of theater brands including Cinema de Lux and Multiplex Cinemas. Its theaters in the United States are almost exclusively in the Northeast.
The company has closed several theaters in the past year but has yet to formally announce the closure of the Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas.
The future of the College Point Multiplex Cinemas
appears in doubt.
Last week, New York YIMBY reported that the real estate development firm, Triangle Equities, secured $50 Million in financing for a logistics facility on the 425,000-square-foot site where the theater on Ulmer St. is currently located.
The current plan is to redevelop the nine-acre area into a multi-story distribution center, given its central location and proximity to major roadways. The site is also home to Party Wow, a party supply store, and used to have a Toys “R” Us before it filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
Meanwhile, other theaters operated by Showcase Cinemas across the state have recently closed.
Tuesday marked the last day that the Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in East New York was open to moviegoers.
A statement on its website read, “It has been our pleasure to serve the Brooklyn community with great movie-going for many years. Due to a business decision, January 2, 2024 will be our last day of cinema operations. Showcase Cinemas is committed to providing a superior movie-going experience and we hope to see you at our Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas and College Point Multiplex Cinemas locations. Thank you for your patronage.”
But despite the company’s message to encourage moviegoers to visit its other locations, it appears that both Queens locations won’t be open for long.
QNS reached out to National Amusements for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.
The closures are part of a nationwide trend that left the industry scrambling to sell tickets amid a rise in streaming services, and then the pandemic further hurt the industry with temporary closures.
“Whereas other theaters did rebound. I don’t know that Jamaica really rebounded as well as some of the other theaters,” said Mattone. “So I think that may have also been part of some of the decision making.”
Mattone said that his investment group has already held preliminary conversations with other theater companies to explore the possibility of keeping a movie theater in Jamaica. But he couldn’t comment just yet on the specific companies in consideration. They are also considering other types of retailers. But he added that bringing in another theater tenant would be the most seamless option.
“I can’t think of the last new theater that opened in the area,” said Mattone. “There’s really been no new theaters that have opened in Queens in god knows how long.”
Queens residents who are looking to watch a movie on the big screen still have some options.
AMC has locations in Bay Terrace and Fresh Meadows. Regal UA also has theaters in Astoria and Forest Hills. There are also small independent theaters sprinkled throughout the borough such as the Cinemart Cinemas in Forest Hills and Fair Theater in East Elmhurst.
please update close on April 4, 2024. They closed because thry are running the Brass Mill location
Please update, total seats 1503
Please update, total seats 1096, this was reduced due to reclienrs installed over6 years ago
Please update, total seats is 458. Theatre 1 101 Theatre 2 121 Theatre 3 38 Theatre 4 88 Theatre 5 83 and theatre 6 27 seats. Source: Clairidge Cinemas Website
Uploaded in the photos section a article about 4DX at this location from the lastest Boxoffice Magazine issue
Please update, theatre opened December 17, 1997 Grand Opening ad posted in photos section
Grand opening ad in photos
Please update, theatre closed as of April 1, 2024. See post in photos section.
This was Regal 3 renovation of the theatre and theatre 12 is 296 which is 4DX. Please update current total seats is now 1590. The updated seat count with additional seating due to RPX and 4DX getting more seats.
It looks like this theatre not getting Screen X like Union Squre, they took down the sign in the lobby and posted photos of the construction. No more Loews anywhere in the complex.
Please update, theatre opened February 12, 1988. Grand Opening ads in photos section
It closed under RKO Century Warner, please update
According to RKO Century directory, the total capacity is 1205. Theatre 1 608 and theatre 2 597. Please update
As per RKO Century, the address is 221 Broadway and it closed under RKO Century
Please update, total capacity 606
theater last day May 7, 2024
Theater last day of operation April 30, 2024. see ad in photos section
announcement that College Point Multiplex Cinemas will close May 7 and eventually be replaced by a logistics center.
Jamaica Multiplex to close April 30 Many people are shocked by loss; some blame inflation and streaming by Naeisha Rose, Associate Editor Feb 1, 2024
Showcase Cinemas, a global chain that manages movie theaters across the country, has told the Chronicle via email that Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will cease operations on Tuesday, April 30, about two months earlier than what has been reported over the past few weeks.
“Members of our Starpass loyalty program will receive a special offer as a way to thank them for their many years of movie-going at Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas,” said a marketing and partnerships representative of the chain. “Showcase Cinemas remains deeply committed to our theatrical exhibition business and we look forward to continuing to provide a superior movie-going experience at our U.S. cinema locations.”
When asked why the multiplex, located at 159-02 Jamaica Ave., is closing, the representative said the move follows a failure to come to terms with the landlord on a new lease agreement.
Michael Mattone, CEO of Mattone Investors, LLC, the owner of the building that houses the movie theater, told the Chronicle there was no dispute with Showcase Cinemas.
“Their lease terms came to an end,” Mattone said. “They were there for 20 years and then we gave them an extension. That extension basically expired and they decided not to seek an additional term.”
When asked about the April 30 end date, Mattone said he had been told it was June.
“That’s news to me,” said Mattone, who opened up a JD Sports next door to the multiplex two weeks ago.
As for whether he will work with a different movie chain or replace the business with a retailer, the CEO said he has a couple of things in the works.
“I am not at liberty to get into the details on those just yet,” Mattone said. “Those range from maintaining it as a theater to change of use … [Details] coming soon to a theater near you.”
Several people were shocked and dismayed on Monday to learn that Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will be closing.
The move comes on the heels of Brooklyn’s Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas’ closure on Jan. 2 and the announcement that College Point Multiplex Cinemas will close May 7 and eventually be replaced by a logistics center.
According to multiple reports, Showcase Cinemas, owned by National Amusements, which owns all three theaters, has been shuttering movie houses across the country due to the rise of streaming, low foot traffic since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and expiring lease agreements.
“I think another theater would be good,” passerby Javonte Wooten said when asked by the Chronicle if there should be a new business or another moviehouse. “I actually live near where the Linden Boulevard theater just closed. Those are staples in our community.”
Wooten, who works for the city Department of Health in Queens, said there are not a lot of places to take kids and she is sad to see both theaters go.
“I have attended this one plenty of times and it has always been pretty nice, but I know it is not busy at all,” she added. “I can understand that after the pandemic that all of the theaters are getting shut down, but it is a sad era to take place with streaming and everything.”
A Brooklyn woman in her 50s said that she is a live-in nurse aide and does not get to go out a lot, so she watches movies via cable TV.
“I want it to stay the same because I’ve been coming here since I was 5 or 6,” said a 23-year-old Ozone Park woman. “We come here all the time.”
She said she does not want to see the multiplex get replaced by a different theater chain or a retailer.
A third woman from Brooklyn who works in Queens, found the news to be terrible.
“We need a theater right here in Jamaica,” she said. “It was my go-to theater right after work.”
Sheryl Virtue of Deer Park, LI, said she is not a cinemagoer but feels that movie theaters are a great place for young people to gather.
“I’m not a movie person … but for those that are into movies, I don’t think it is a good thing,” Virtue said. “Sometimes this is where [youths] get to hang out with their parents or their peers.”
Janet Henry of the Bronx said that there should be a smaller multiplex in the building that houses the theater as well as a new retailer that will draw people to the moviehouse and the area.
“Inflation is really high too; perhaps if they cut prices a little bit,” Henry said. “When people can get things at a lower cost, they will try to make use of it.”
Joel Raceral of Cambria Heights did not feel any particular way about the multiplex closing because of the lack of quality films.
“I don’t really go to the movie theater often,” Raceral said. “There isn’t anything really interesting for me to watch anymore.”
Fabiola Labonche of Jamaica had mixed feelings about the closure. She was sorry to hear the theater is closing, but liked the potential of a new type of business replacing it so there will be more jobs in the region.
“I’m sad because I enjoy going there,” she said. “But it can be an Amazon. We don’t have it here. I need a job. Just put an Amazon here.”
From Alamo Drafthouse Since first opening its doors in 2016, our Downtown Brooklyn location has been a cornerstone of our little cinema company. It was our first foray into NYC, and we’re extremely proud of the community of moviegoers that have built up around it – but even the Mona Lisa needs to get some work done every once in a while. On February 5th and 6th, we’ll be closing our doors to begin work on a comprehensive remodel and expansion, including new seats, more screens, new projectors, and more bathrooms.
First up, the seats. Every single auditorium will be getting a plushy, ultra-comfy upgrade in the form of premium recliner seats. Not only will they be more comfortable and afford you a better view of the screen, they each come with their own swivel table. Now you can swing your popcorn and beer right to your face, just as the good lord intended. We’ll be updating our seats a few auditoriums at a time, but we plan to have the first batch installed and ready for your butt soon.
In addition to the updates we’re making to our existing auditoriums, we’ll be doing a massive five screen expansion. This nearly doubles our screen count, which means more movies and more awesome events for you. It also means more bathrooms, as we’ll be adding a few more of those by our new auditoriums as well.
Every auditorium will also be getting a big upgrade in the form of state-of-the-art Laser projectors, with select auditoriums receiving RealD 3D, 70mm, and 35mm capabilities.
As always, we’ll continue to do everything we can to provide you the best cinema experience possible, but we kindly ask that you be patient with us and excuse any dust. After we open back up on 2/07 we’ll be running a limited menu through 2/13 of appetizers, pizzas, drinks, and a few other favorites. This will allow us to continue to provide the best service possible throughout the renovation process, but we apologize if your burger cravings go unsated for a little while.
That’s it for now, but be sure to check back here and our social channels for all the latest updates on Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn’s transformation. Until then, we’ll see you at the movies (just not on 2/05 or 2/06).
4dx screen 10
By Saleah Blancaflor | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Warner Theater, a longstanding movie theater in Ridgewood, will permanently close and cease operations following its evening showtimes on Sunday, its parent company Bow Tie Partners announced in a press release Monday.
The theater opened in 1932 as a single-screen cinema, featuring the premiere of “The Dark Horse” starring Bette Davis. In 1978, the space expanded to two screens, and in 1984, two more screens were added. Bow Tie Partners acquired The Warner Theater in 2013, and its affiliate, Bow Tie Cinemas, has operated it for the last decade.
The theater’s shuttering follows struggles related to the pandemic, Bow Tie said — a familiar tale which caused dramatic changes to the movie theater business, particularly older venues. The Bergen County theater “is no longer viable at this location,” the statement said.
Bow Tie said it plans to remain part of the downtown Ridgewood is considering options for redevelopment of the movie theater space, including use as a performing arts venue.
“We offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of our loyal customers who, over the past 11 years, have provided us the honor of hosting them at the movies in Ridgewood,” said Ben Moss, Owner of Bow Tie Partners, in a statement. “We are very much looking forward to remaining a part of the vibrant downtown Ridgewood business community and look forward to announcing our future plans when we have finished our analysis of alternative uses.”
Currently, there are no other Bow Tie Cinemas operating in New Jersey.
Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at . Follow her on Twitter @saleyley and Instagram.
Plese rename North Fork Arts Center (NFAC) at the Sapan Greenport Theatre. This is what on their official website
Jamaica movie theater set to close in June, while future of College Point theater in doubt
By Iryna Shkurhan
Posted on January 3, 2024
Queens is set to lose one of its few remaining movie theaters this year, and another one appears in jeopardy, amid a nationwide decline in the big screen industry.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will shut down in June, according to the Mattone Group Jamaica Company, a real estate investment firm that spearheaded bringing the theater to Jamaica, and also managed it over the past two decades. Meanwhile, the College Point Multiplex Cinemas, just five miles away, looks slated to close, with reports emerging last week that developers are in the process of transforming the cinema site into a distribution center.
The parent company of the two theaters, Showcase Cinemas, notified the owner of the Jamaica property last month that it does not plan on renewing the lease. Showcase initially signed on for a 20-year lease in 2002, and then received a short two-year extension in 2022, which is set to expire in June.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, a 15-plex cinema located on Jamaica Avenue, opened in May 2002 – the same month that the original Spider-Man movie was released. When the cinema first opened its doors, the operators were still running movies on giant rolls of film.
“We hate to see it go. It’s unfortunate, but a sign of the times,” said Michael Mattone, who recounted breaking ground on the previously vacant lot where Jamaica Center now stands in 2000. “We were hoping that they would stay, but I can’t say it came as a total surprise.”
Showcase Cinemas is owned by National Amusements, which collectively owns 1,500 theaters across the world under a variety of theater brands including Cinema de Lux and Multiplex Cinemas. Its theaters in the United States are almost exclusively in the Northeast.
The company has closed several theaters in the past year but has yet to formally announce the closure of the Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas. The future of the College Point Multiplex Cinemas appears in doubt. Last week, New York YIMBY reported that the real estate development firm, Triangle Equities, secured $50 Million in financing for a logistics facility on the 425,000-square-foot site where the theater on Ulmer St. is currently located.
The current plan is to redevelop the nine-acre area into a multi-story distribution center, given its central location and proximity to major roadways. The site is also home to Party Wow, a party supply store, and used to have a Toys “R” Us before it filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
Meanwhile, other theaters operated by Showcase Cinemas across the state have recently closed.
Tuesday marked the last day that the Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in East New York was open to moviegoers.
A statement on its website read, “It has been our pleasure to serve the Brooklyn community with great movie-going for many years. Due to a business decision, January 2, 2024 will be our last day of cinema operations. Showcase Cinemas is committed to providing a superior movie-going experience and we hope to see you at our Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas and College Point Multiplex Cinemas locations. Thank you for your patronage.”
But despite the company’s message to encourage moviegoers to visit its other locations, it appears that both Queens locations won’t be open for long.
QNS reached out to National Amusements for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.
The closures are part of a nationwide trend that left the industry scrambling to sell tickets amid a rise in streaming services, and then the pandemic further hurt the industry with temporary closures.
“Whereas other theaters did rebound. I don’t know that Jamaica really rebounded as well as some of the other theaters,” said Mattone. “So I think that may have also been part of some of the decision making.”
Mattone said that his investment group has already held preliminary conversations with other theater companies to explore the possibility of keeping a movie theater in Jamaica. But he couldn’t comment just yet on the specific companies in consideration. They are also considering other types of retailers. But he added that bringing in another theater tenant would be the most seamless option.
“I can’t think of the last new theater that opened in the area,” said Mattone. “There’s really been no new theaters that have opened in Queens in god knows how long.”
Queens residents who are looking to watch a movie on the big screen still have some options.
AMC has locations in Bay Terrace and Fresh Meadows. Regal UA also has theaters in Astoria and Forest Hills. There are also small independent theaters sprinkled throughout the borough such as the Cinemart Cinemas in Forest Hills and Fair Theater in East Elmhurst.
Jamaica movie theater set to close in June, while future of College Point theater in doubt
By Iryna Shkurhan
Posted on January 3, 2024
Queens is set to lose one of its few remaining movie theaters this year, and another one appears in jeopardy, amid a nationwide decline in the big screen industry.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will shut down in June, according to the Mattone Group Jamaica Company, a real estate investment firm that spearheaded bringing the theater to Jamaica, and also managed it over the past two decades. Meanwhile, the College Point Multiplex Cinemas, just five miles away, looks slated to close, with reports emerging last week that developers are in the process of transforming the cinema site into a distribution center.
The parent company of the two theaters, Showcase Cinemas, notified the owner of the Jamaica property last month that it does not plan on renewing the lease. Showcase initially signed on for a 20-year lease in 2002, and then received a short two-year extension in 2022, which is set to expire in June.
The Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas, a 15-plex cinema located on Jamaica Avenue, opened in May 2002 – the same month that the original Spider-Man movie was released. When the cinema first opened its doors, the operators were still running movies on giant rolls of film.
“We hate to see it go. It’s unfortunate, but a sign of the times,” said Michael Mattone, who recounted breaking ground on the previously vacant lot where Jamaica Center now stands in 2000. “We were hoping that they would stay, but I can’t say it came as a total surprise.”
Showcase Cinemas is owned by National Amusements, which collectively owns 1,500 theaters across the world under a variety of theater brands including Cinema de Lux and Multiplex Cinemas. Its theaters in the United States are almost exclusively in the Northeast.
The company has closed several theaters in the past year but has yet to formally announce the closure of the Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas. The future of the College Point Multiplex Cinemas appears in doubt. Last week, New York YIMBY reported that the real estate development firm, Triangle Equities, secured $50 Million in financing for a logistics facility on the 425,000-square-foot site where the theater on Ulmer St. is currently located.
The current plan is to redevelop the nine-acre area into a multi-story distribution center, given its central location and proximity to major roadways. The site is also home to Party Wow, a party supply store, and used to have a Toys “R” Us before it filed for bankruptcy in 2017.
Meanwhile, other theaters operated by Showcase Cinemas across the state have recently closed.
Tuesday marked the last day that the Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in East New York was open to moviegoers.
A statement on its website read, “It has been our pleasure to serve the Brooklyn community with great movie-going for many years. Due to a business decision, January 2, 2024 will be our last day of cinema operations. Showcase Cinemas is committed to providing a superior movie-going experience and we hope to see you at our Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas and College Point Multiplex Cinemas locations. Thank you for your patronage.”
But despite the company’s message to encourage moviegoers to visit its other locations, it appears that both Queens locations won’t be open for long.
QNS reached out to National Amusements for comment, but did not hear back by publication time.
The closures are part of a nationwide trend that left the industry scrambling to sell tickets amid a rise in streaming services, and then the pandemic further hurt the industry with temporary closures.
“Whereas other theaters did rebound. I don’t know that Jamaica really rebounded as well as some of the other theaters,” said Mattone. “So I think that may have also been part of some of the decision making.”
Mattone said that his investment group has already held preliminary conversations with other theater companies to explore the possibility of keeping a movie theater in Jamaica. But he couldn’t comment just yet on the specific companies in consideration. They are also considering other types of retailers. But he added that bringing in another theater tenant would be the most seamless option.
“I can’t think of the last new theater that opened in the area,” said Mattone. “There’s really been no new theaters that have opened in Queens in god knows how long.”
Queens residents who are looking to watch a movie on the big screen still have some options.
AMC has locations in Bay Terrace and Fresh Meadows. Regal UA also has theaters in Astoria and Forest Hills. There are also small independent theaters sprinkled throughout the borough such as the Cinemart Cinemas in Forest Hills and Fair Theater in East Elmhurst.