Open for business!

More than two and a half years after Hurricane Sandy shuttered the theater, Long Beach Cinemas celebrated its grand reopening with a formal ribbon-cutting last Friday. Though the theater had been open for a few weeks prior, the ribbon cutting signified that the theater was officially back in business.

Long Beach International Film Festival co-founder Ingrid Dodd was on hand at the ceremony along with Chamber of Commerce President Mark Tannenbaum, State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, City Council Vice President Fran Adelson and City Manager Jack Schnirman, among others.

The LBIFF began in 2012 with the plan screen the festival’s movies at Long Beach Cinemas, event organizers said. But when Sandy forced the theater to close, the festival has been forced to show some of its films in Rockville Centre. Long Beach Cinemas and the LBIFF are expected to partner up again going forward, Dodd said.

"We are beyond elated to be able to screen the best, hand-picked independent and studio films for our friends, family and festival goers in such a beautiful, comfortable and state-of-the-art theater," Dodd said. 

The theater’s four movie screens and 550 seats were damaged by floodwaters during Sandy. Renovations were recently completed on a complete overhaul of the theater. Along with 436 new seats Long Beach Cinemas has all-new screens and will continue to show 3-D films. An updated ticket purchasing system will allow moviegoers to reserve their seats in advance. It will show first-run films with a mix of mainstream and the occasional independent film.

"It's another positive step in for our city's recovery and yet another sign that Long Beach continues to move forward," Councilman Anthony Eramo said. "My wife and I are looking forward to taking our kids to the Long Beach theatre for the first time since Sandy."