By Daniel Katzive
Remember the Alamo?
News last year that the historic Metro Theater on West 100th Street and Broadway would be reopened as an upscale Alamo Drafthouse dine-in movie theater was greeted with celebration in the community. “God, please let this happen. Seriously, it’s a wonderful day,” said one member of Community Board 7, as reported in WSR at the time.
A group calling itself Friends of Metro Theater, which came together in 2021 as part of an effort to preserve the historic facility, was particularly elated. “Our hard work is paying off,” wrote group member Liza Cooper in a post on the group’s website in response to the news. The group is planning an event tonight to mark the 90th anniversary of the theater, but the celebratory mood might be tempered somewhat by continuing uncertainty over the timeline for reopening, particularly given a false start 10 years ago when an earlier Alamo plan for the site was abruptly canceled.
An application for a two-year liquor license for the Alamo Drafthouse received a favorable recommendation from Community Board 7 back in September 2022. Since then, the Friends group has not heard anything further on plans for reopening, according to Claudia Ford, one of the group’s leaders. “The neighborhood is wondering…,” she wrote in an email to WSR.
The new proprietors, Mikey Trafton and Tim League, did not respond to an email from WSR seeking an update. But a check of the State Liquor Authority’s (SLA) website shows their application for a liquor license at the location is still pending. The SLA issued a notice of deficiency letter on the application just last week.
The SLA’s letter dated June 12 calls on the applicants to provide various details and additional information, including a signed statement of lease commencement date and information on source of funding. The applicants have until July 6 to respond to the questions, which do not appear to be particularly substantive.
Meanwhile, tonight’s celebration is set to go ahead despite a possibility of foul weather, confirmed in a post on the Friends of Metro Theater Facebook page this morning. The group will gather under the theater’s historic marquee on Broadway between 99th and 100th Streets from 7 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
So sad. Another stall. It’s almost another year, and still no progress. Please hurry up the liquor license. Someone with real financing and who really knows what they are doing needs to take over.
I suggest no one hold their breath.
Rumor had it that the theatre was to be a private space for the hi-rise next door, but that obviously didn’t happen. It’s been in limbo ever since. I’m convinced that the owners, whoever they are, are just waiting for time and the elements to destroy the facade and marquee so they can demolish it – how else to explain the utter neglect of the last two decades?
Does the SLA usually issue licenses to establishments in derelict buildings? Probably not…
I recall it being gutted, I don’t recall sustained activity after that which would have allowed it to be renovated for the intended use.
I am all for this being reopened and adding to the community (it would be a great re-addition) but the people with the dreams appear to have significant work and planning to do, not to mention funding.
Can’t pin this one on the SLA.
The delays are not the fault of the planned new proprietors. The liquor license is not the issue.
The current owners of the Metro will remain the owners. They are required to do significant amounts of work on the building before the lessees can take ownership of the building, including (per paperwork on door of theater) absbestos abatement.
It seems that work has been stalled in the planning stages.
The DOB website has not showed any permits filed for that work to this date.
No shock here, unfortunately.
Good luck to the Friends of the Metro Theater. The owners have left a blight in this area for almost two decades now…and our community in some ways allowed it. I’m sure these owners would not stand for a derelict house near their home, but they seem to have no issues doing this to the community. The Metro is a historic structure but given how long the attempts to revive it have been going on, perhaps the best thing to do at this point is to level it.
I agree. At this point just level the bright and build something new there.
Are you kidding?
Why? The building isn’t some grand thing. Better to turn the property over to the city and let them build something useful.
Is the building a landmark?
It is a landmark, which means it can’t be leveled, unless it deteriorates to the point that it becomes actively unsafe. It’s on its way
I believe it is only the exterior that is landmarked. If I recall correctly, the interior was gutted long ago.
Correct. Only the front facade and marquis are landmarked. The rest of the building can be completely torn down and gutted. I think the entire interior is already a shell.
Is there no intersection of interests between the Metro and the New Plaza group that is trying to find a permanent home for the re-organize Lincoln Plaza Cinema?
There’s no market for the dinner theater concept that was most recently proposed. It’s not reopening probably ever as a theater.
I seriously would have loved taking my kids there every weekend as they were growing up. Sadly, they’re in college now.
In WSR’s earlier articles, they talked about the Bialek group’s ownership.
Is that still the case?
We had an incredible 90th birthday celebration on Thursday with a magnificent turnout of community. People shared their memories and hopes of snd for Metro. It was a reminder of how vital this iconic space is to our neighbors!
On behalf of Friends of Metro Theater, I met with Tim League, who seems to be a visionary, passionate about opening the Metro.. I spoke to owner Albert Bialek yesterday, who said the plans for Alamo continue. After 17 years shuttered, it’s easy to be discouraged by the delays. We remain hopeful.
I welcome anyone with influence, financial strength or big ideas on how to push this opening forward to reach out to me.
The lights must go on.