Sigh. The Alamo Drafthouse company will not be opening up a new movie theater in the former Metro Theater after all.
The Texas-based theater company announced this morning that the project to create a new five-screen moviehouse in the historic theater on Broadway between 99th and 100th streets was simply going to cost too much money. News that it planned to open was one of the most exciting developments in the neighborhood last year: the Alamo is known for playing fun flicks and serving you food and beer while you watch. The company announced the news on its blog:
“An often-stated priority for the Alamo Drafthouse has been to open a venue in New York City. While that still stands true, the reality of the upper west side Metro is that too much has changed since we initially began work on the location. Construction costs have risen tremendously since engaging in the project back in early 2012 (due in some measure to ongoing Hurricane Sandy reconstruction efforts) and ultimately the location is no longer financially viable for us. We would love to make the upper west side location our next neighborhood theater in New York, but we cannot see this particular location as sustainable under current conditions.
We’re proud to have opened New York’s first Alamo in Yonkers last month. We’re also excited to see construction of the development in downtown Brooklyn well under way. The New York City area expansion remains a priority for us in addition to the theaters currently under construction in San Francisco, Kalamazoo, MI and New Braunfels, TX.”
We had reported last year about some “permitting issues” the company was having, but CEO Tim League told us in an interview that the project was moving along smoothly. What’s confusing also is that the company appeared to have already completed significant construction.
Thanks to Ben for the tip.
now maybe something we need in this hood can open up.. like a frozen yogurt establishment
Bowery Presents should take this space over and turn it into a great live music venue. Now that would be a great addition to the neighborhood .
WEll, that stinks.
I do not know the details, but it is probably safe to say that it has to do with the mind numbing red tape , corruption, delays, ticketing, bribery, regulations required by our City Government in order to open a legal business in New York, which pays taxes, employs people and adds to our quality of life.
#3, your comment would make better sense if they weren’t still moving ahead in Brooklyn. Construction is going quickly there last I walked by.
The problem is that the UWS has become highly commercialized and undesirable for all but the elderly and yuppie familes. The neighborhood can barely sustain a bookstore anymore. It’s all banks, insufferable chain restaurants and cell phone stores. They should just get a Walmart in there and call it a day, seems the UWS has jumped the shark. The neighborhood I once knew is now gone, it’s simply a suburban mall now.
I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist but I cannot help but think more and more either this section of the city has HORRIBLE luck or for some reason the Officials hate the area and just want to condemn it. Why in the WORLD would they not be able to get a liquor license here but can move forward to Downtown BK? The city wants to develop and develop BK and do nothing for Upper Manhattan.
We can have 18 Homeless Shelters in a 17 blocks radius in this area but G*d FORBID a movie theater catered to adults sells a beer. That would endanger the whole neighborhood.
Maybe the city has eyes on turning it into an “Emergency Homeless Shelter??”
Very unfortunate- every redevelopment plan there comes to an early death. BTW: the work shown in the 4/1/2013 photo link above is years old, part of the demolition for the ‘Urban Outfitters’ which ultimately opened across the street…Nothing has happened at this site for a LONG time.
NOOOOOOO. Sad news.
This is really the most disappointing news I’ve heard in a while. I was so looking forward to the Alamo.
I agree there are some problems with the UWS, but please, there is plenty left to love! Just off the top of my head…Silver Moon Bakery, Gennaro, Zabar’s, Darryl’s boutique, and two great parks steps away.
come on kathy, wake up and smell the bagels. the uws has been on a downward track for years now. broadway between 72nd and 96th has nearly 50 vacancies, some of which have been sitting empty for almost 2 YEARS now. crime is up 25% in the area near the increased homeless shelters and you hear today of 4 people getting stabbed in Riverside Park in daylight. there have been a couple murders earlier this year in the 90’s and meanwhile you have people buying up 20 million dollar condos while 95% of the neighborhood slides backwards. sorry, but zabars doesn’t make up for what to me looks like a neighborhood in disrepair. broadway has become a joke. might as well move back to the burbs and pay 1/4 the price.
John Galt fled the hood so proud to ban dancing and Edison light bulbs.
@D, it sounds like you’re saying they got turned down for a liquor license? Is that what happened? I remember (at least I think I do) seeing a liquor license hearing notice posted outside Metro a couple weeks back. Any more details? I think we should start a letter writing campaign and/or kickstarter project — I’d kick in $50 or $100 now for a free evening for 2 later.
Is that happened ? the community board voted against their liquor license?
If so, this an outrage!
Not too hard to google is it prior to making accusations, is it? A quick search will find that the Community Board voted to approve the liquor license.
Seriously, stop spreading unfounded gossip – the board approved the license last year on a 26-0 vote.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb7/downloads/pdf/reso11_12.pdf
If you ask people who have opened businesses on the UWS, it is a nightmare. Corvo bianco took approximately 18 months to open because of various delays. ( just a patron not a worker). We need businesses to open!
Thank you for the response.
Note above I did not accuse anyone , but asked a question if that was so.
Glad to hear you voted for it.
That said, why don’t you the CB be pro-active and reach out to them and invite them to rethink their decision and that the true community welcomes them (yes, I know a for profit business and a “chain” to boot).
Perhaps encouraging businesses (and jobs and taxes) would be new a novel idea.
Terrible news! I was really looking forward to the opening. If this was indeed due to not being able to acquire a liquor license I will be very upset. Westside Rag, can you please follow up & let us know if the liquor license killed the project?
Perhaps Helen Rosenthal preferred an empty storefront, perhaps some graffiti, and maybe a homeless person harassing people for change.
What we could do is make it a homeless shelter.
I always judged any town / area by if it had two things that defined it as civilized. First a book store. Sadly that age is quickly dying. The second was a movie theater . I had looked forward to viewing film with friends and NO CELL PHONES. Alas that too is now gone. This area is starting to slide back to the way it was in the 80’s with bums and filth. Anarchy violence and a total disregard for public safety. Its all about the Almighty Dollar around here. I am no fool. Its never not been that way. The price is that the mom and Pop stores are being driven out and even t those who want to do do something novel give up. Excuses are useless. Its rather depressing.
So disappointing. I just moved up to 98th St and was psyched when I saw the signs on the theater.
Aw! I was really looking forward to this. This news really stinks.