A good sign at Long Beach Cinemas

Chamber of Commerce: movie theater expected to reopen next month

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In what many are calling a positive sign that the Hurricane Sandy-shuttered Long Beach Cinemas will soon roll its projectors, the theater announced on Thursday that it was hiring new staff ahead of its reopening, which the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce said is scheduled for June.

Owner Seth Pilevksy told the Herald last November that the theater, which has remained closed since the storm, might reopen this spring or summer following extensive renovations.

Now, a year after the theater posted a sign on its marquee that read “Look 4 grand re-opening,” the theater announced that it would be hiring new employees on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pilevsky was not immediately available for comment and a call to the theater was not answered. 

“They will be opening by the middle or end of June,” said chamber President Mark Tannenbaum, who added that the reopening will be a boon to local businesses. “They promised they would do it and they are keeping their promise. I think it’s terrific for the community because it’s a destination place.”

The news quickly spread on social media, with many expressing both shock and excitement, especially since a new sign also was recently installed in the theater’s parking lot.

“I think it’s just another step forward in recovery from the storm," said Councilman Anthony Eramo. "There are still some businesses, some of the smaller businesses, that went out, but as a symbol of us coming back, [the movie theater] is on the main road and people drive past it every day. It’s a constant reminder of the storm. Even if people don’t go to the movies, I think people will feel good that it’s reopened.”

“The movie theater is opening, I hear very soon, and they’re just finishing up,” added Michael Kerr, the chamber's board chairman.

Last fall, Pilevsky, co-president of Manhattan-based Philips International — the company that bought the property in 2000 and built the theater that’s now there — said that he was hopeful the theater would reopen in time for the summer. He said that he was committed to reopening the theater and that the renovations included the installation of new, roomier seats as well as new screens and other upgrades.

“The new chairs are in,” Kerr said. “I would say that theater is very close to opening. The whole front of the building looks great so they should be ready to rock ’n’ roll soon, and the merchants are looking forward to seeing it open and of course the residents as well. It will bring in more business to the downtown area — including people from the Five Towns — and the restaurants hopefully will benefit greatly because people usually come in for a bite.”

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