Douglaston movie world movies
A beloved small business in Douglaston will officially bite the dust next month.
According to MovieWorld owner Russell Levinson, his cinema will “probably” be showing films for the last time on Monday, July 2. The business, which first opened in 1983 and once closed for a brief period in 2008, will be moved out of the Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center by the end of July’s first week.
In MovieWorld’s lease with the shopping center’s owner, there is a buyout clause. The plan for Lowe’s Home Improvement to move into the old Macy’s space at the commercial center also has it taking over space on the property’s lower level where the cinema is.
Levinson told the Chronicle he’s searching for a new space to put MovieWorld. But because the business can’t afford to set up a movie theater at a property where there hasn’t been an existing one, he said finding a new site hasn’t been easy.
“We love what we do, we love our customers and hopefully we’ll be able to find something close,” Levinson said. “If not, then we’ll do the same thing we do somewhere else.”
At an emotional meeting earlier this year, Community Board 11 approved variances sought by Lowe’s for its plan — ones that the city
Family-owned MovieWorld theater in Douglaston will screen its last films this July
A long-standing Douglaston movie theater will soon go dark to make way for a big box retailer.
MovieWorld, which is located within the Douglaston Plaza shopping center, is projected to screen its last picture show on July 2, according to general manager Russell Levinson. The storefront, along with the former site of Macy’s, will be assumed by a new tenant: Lowe’s Home Improvement.
“We’re really sad to have to leave,” Levinson said. “We think it’s not really a positive for the community and we do hope to find a new home. We love what we do and we’re trying to find something close.”
In January 2017, news first emerged that the family-owned business may have to vacate its storefront within the shopping center, located at 242-02 61st Ave., to make way for the home improvement retailer. In the following weeks, an online petition to save the theater was created and circulated by residents. It is just short of its 1,500-signature goal.
Levinson previously told QNS that, though MovieWorld would like to stay at the location, the landlord does have the option to buy out the lease. The Doug
...The landlord has exercised a clause in the lease that requires us to vacate within 30 days. We are not closing for any other reason than we are being required to under the terms of our original lease. A Lowes store will be taking the entire lower level of the shopping center and construction will start right away.... It has been an amazing experience being able to bring movies to all of you. We encourage everyone to keep going to the movies!
(Thanks to Andrew for the tip)
Man, I hate writing these posts. It seems like I've written too many of them in the not-quite eight years this blog has been active. Some hurt more than others. This isn't that painful, but only because I'm not as familiar with this theater as with others. Still, I feel this loss, too.
Movieworld might have provided the best bargain for first-run films in Queens, if not all of New York: $11 full price for 2D films, $7 matinee before four PM, and $6 all day Wednesdays.
A proudly independent, community-based cinema located near the border of Queens and Nassau County, in Douglaston, MW had been around for over thirty years
DOUGLASTON, QUEENS -- Petitions and pleas to community leaders couldn't rescue a beloved local theater from being pushed out of Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center to form room for a Lowe's store.
MovieWorld owners announced on Facebook this week that the family-run theater would host one last production showing at 242-02 61st Ave. on July 2 before closing its doors for good the following day.
"It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we must close our doors for good on July 3rd, 2018," the post reads. "The landlord has exercised a clause in the lease that requires us to vacate within 30 days."
Find out what's happening in Bayside-Douglastonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Though MovieWorld still had six years left on its lease, mall owners Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation negotiated a contract with the theater's handling years ago that would permit the lease to be bought out, Patch previously reported.
After a hard-fought battle from locals on both sides, owners said AAC did just that to build room for a controversial Lowe's store. The big-box home improvement chain narrowly won approval from Community Board 11 in February to replace Macy's now-shutt
Finding the right movie theater can make all the difference for a great date, a fun time out with friends or just a place to relax and escape from the mundane real world. The family owned MovieWorld Cinemas in Douglaston can provide all that and much more.
The theater has been around for a long time but was taken over by general manager Russell Levinson in 2008, who revamped the cinema to enhance the movie-going experience. The seven-screen theater replaced its old seats and put in high-back rockers. Levinson also put in digital projections for all screens.
“We installed digital projections in early 2012. It’s the latest technology and everything runs off computers and servers,” he said. “The theater is also equipped for 3-D films.”
The movie theater is also unique in its pricing on some days with “the lowest prices in New York City” said Levinson. With moviegoers being turned off from going to the movies with rising prices, MovieWorld strays from the pack by offering discounts that everyone can afford. Every Monday, except holidays, is ladies night where women get in for $5.50. Every Wednesday is Wacky Wednesday, where everyone gets in for $5.50. For matinee shows, you can g