By Carol Tannenhauser
“God, please let this happen. Seriously, it’s a wonderful day!”
Those words, spoken by a member of the CB7 Business and Consumer Issues Committee at Wednesday night’s meeting, reflected the feelings of the entire committee as they responded one by one to the presentation of a team from “Metro Cinema,” there to apply for a liquor license and announce that the long-closed Metro Theater, on Broadway between 99th and 100th Streets, will be reopening as a multi-screen dinner-theater.
Tim League, the founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, explained that while the project is “largely funded by Alamo, we’re trying to establish a little bit higher-end brand. Alamo is pizza and salads, Metro will have some of those, but will also have more full entrees, a really nice wine list, and a small bar.”
League acknowledged that Alamo had disappointed the neighborhood once before. “Alamo came before you guys back in 2013 with the intention of opening a theater in this location, but, unfortunately, was never able to move forward with the project. We’re coming back and taking another swing at it.”
League couldn’t say for sure how many screens there will be, or when the theater will be ready, but said they are close to hiring a contractor and will begin shortly. He said there will be first-run movies, blockbusters, independent and foreign-language films, as well as documentaries shown. And he emphasized that the landmarked facade and marquee of the theater will be fully restored.
By the way, apparently, the marquee is missing the letter R in Metro. League said, “I’m in the market for an R.”
The liquor-license application was approved by the committee. It must still go to the full community board and the State Liquor Authority.
just left this meeting. Sounds like a new Metro is really happening, in some sort of biz partnership with Alamo. Supposedly Alamo fell through last time due to construction costs expanding beyond their already thin margin. But this time they’ve got it figured out. Everyone agreed it can only improve that block. Was impressed by the board, who handled this and dozens of other issues efficiently. I may come back to future meetings, even if they’re not discussing movies and beer.
This would be wonderful news if it actually materializes.
Have one theater strictly for the drinkers and the pot smoker.
This is absolutely fabulous news.
Hoping this news will help clean up that area of Broadway. It’s dark and dangerous and this could be the shining light needed
Great news. Please let this happen.
I’m wondering if it could have an alcohol-free night. We would love to go but drink and don’t like being with a rowdy (even on wine) drinking crowd.
It’s a movie theater that serves drinks., not a bar. Have you been to the Alamo in Brooklyn? Never had an issue.
I’d check out one of their “family friendly” brunch-type shows downtown to see how rowdy it gets.
Have you ever been to a movie theater that serves alcohol? The audience doesn’t get any rowdier than at a “regular” theater — the drinks are generally too expensive for people to be pounding them back like they’re at a bar.
this is fantastic news (if it comes true)!!!!!
A deep bow of gratitude and respect for the Friends of the Metro Theatre for persistence and creativity. May this come to fruition soon and, if it does, let’s all patronize this place like crazy. It could help lift the whole UWS.
ITA, and I hope this will inspire someone to to put another multi screen theater in the old Lincoln Plaza Cinema spot. : )
Bring back the New Yorker.
As a movie lover and a beer sipper, this is pretty darn exciting! Just some words of wisdom, based on my experience at the Alamo ordering a brunch frittata, some food does NOT lend itself well to eating in the dark! Whoever is designing the “higher end” menu please consider this…
Fantastic news! The UWS needs something like this; fingers crossed things get off the ground. Yay!
I read elsewhere that the folks in charge of the project said the capacity is 176 people. If that wasn’t a typo, then the theater will certainly not last
This thing will never happen. There’s only so many people who care about seeing a movie while a bunch of strangers are eating full dinner around them. Math will never work with the capacity and margins at hand The idea that somehow this time they’ve figured it out – despite much higher construction and food costs, and generally lower interest in movie-going post-pandemic – strikes me as implausible.
But they have so many other locations. Are those not making money?
Wow, I cannot believe this is going to happen. I can’t remember the last time I was there. It seems like 20 years, and it may have been more.
Amazing news!!!! We can’t wait!