Chestnut Hill Cinema Cafe

This mini-twin-screen theater managed to survive from opening in 1973 through the entire multiplex era before closing in 1996 in the megaplex era. The venue had four major owners while in operation and two other chains that failed to launch the venue in the early-1970’s.

The Chestnut Hill Plaza was a new-build shopping center announced in 1971 anchored by a Gaylord’s discount store and a Shop-Rite. Also on hand at the groundbreaking in April of 1971 were representative from Cinecom Theatre Circuit which was the original lessee of the Chestnut Twin Theatres 1 & 2. Cinecom ankled the project that summer as each side pointed the finger at each other. Cinecom would declare bankruptcy less than two years later.

James R. Wilson picked up the project as part of his franchise agreement of what was to be five United General theater locations for Wilson. United General was a competitor to Network Cinemas’ Jerry Lewis Cinema chain. Both were created during the suburban luxury theatre period in film exhibition offering automated, turnkey theater solutions. The Chestnut Twin Theatre was being readied with 16mm projection – not ideal since a large majority of films weren’t offered in that format immediately upon release. As the project was being readied, United General filed for bankruptcy that exposed its fraudulent business in April of 1973. Network Cinemas had also filed bankruptcy just one month earlier.

Undaunted, Wilson picked up the project as an independent becoming part of his fledgling National Mini-Theatres circuit. The Chestnut Hill Twin Cinema 1 & 2 opened July 5, 1973 – almost two years behind the intended opening date – with “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” and “Man of La Mancha". Miss Delaware Carol Lawton was on hand to cut the ribbon of the 576-seat venue with each house seating 238 patrons.

“Star Wars” opened at the Chestnut Hill on July 27, 1977. The film closed August 29, 1978 – 13 months later – achieving more than 100,000 patrons and becoming the venue’s top grossing hit. But by 1982, bidding for such blockbusters became even more challenging for independents. Wilson sold the Chestnut Hill to Budco Quality Theatres. It became the Budco Chesnut Hill Twin Cinema 1 & 2 on December 17, 1982.

In late-1986, AMC Theatres acquired Budco for $20 million. On January 16, 1987, the venue became the AMC Chestnut Hill 2 with AMC steering it to closure at the end of its 20-year leasing agreement on February 11, 1993.

Bob Weir took on the cinema. He gutted the venue relaunching a the Chestnut Hill Cinema Café - purportedly the first of its kind in Delaware. It opened with second-run titles on March 11, 1994 with “Jurassic Park” and “The Fugitive". Weir closed there on December 12, 1996 with “Big Night” and “The First Wives Club” as megaplexes were in style. The property was repurposed for other retail functions.

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