By: Brian Fernandes
Closure Date Moved Forward
Showcase Cinemas has announced the impending closure of the beloved Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas at 159-02 Jamaica Avenue. The closure, initially slated for June, will now occur on Tuesday, April 30, according to a recent statement provided to the Queens Chronicle via email by a marketing and partnerships chain representative.
“Members of our Starpass loyalty program will receive a special offer as a way to thank them for their many years of movie-going at Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas,” said Christian Diaz, an employee at Jamaica Multiplex and adds, “Showcase Cinemas remains deeply committed to our theatrical exhibition business, and we look forward to continuing to provide a superior movie-going experience at our U.S. cinema locations.”
Michael Mattone, CEO of Mattone Investors, LLC, the owner of the building that houses the movie theater, said there was no dispute with Showcase Cinemas. “Their lease terms came to an end,” Mattone said. “They were there for 20 years, and then we extended them. That extension expired, and they decided not to seek an additional term.”
As for whether he will work with a different movie chain or replace the business with a retailer, the CEO said he has a couple of things in the works. “I am not at liberty to get into the details on those just yet,” Mattone said. “Those range from maintaining
Community Reaction
Several people were shocked to learn that Jamaica Multiplex Cinemas will be closing. Jasmine Robinson, 22, an avid movie-goer, said she’s been coming to the theater since she was a little girl. “Me and my best friends come here all the time,” she said. “It’s become a monthly tradition for us to watch every movie release we look forward to.”
Robinson doesn’t want to see the multiplex get replaced by a different theater chain or a retailer.
Irina Sumrajit, a mom of three who works in Queens, found the news to be terrible.
“We need a theater right here in Jamaica,” Sumrait added. “Since we live a couple of blocks away, it was the go-to theater for my husband and I to take my kids to watch the movies we’d all be excited for. The kids definitely did not take this news well.”
The move comes on the heels of Brooklyn’s Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas’ closure on Jan. 2 and the announcement that College Point Multiplex Cinemas will close on May 7 and eventually be replaced by a logistics center.
Impact of Streaming and Pandemic
According to multiple reports, Showcase Cinemas, owned by National Amusements, which owns all three theaters, has been shuttering movie houses across the country due to the rise of streaming, low foot traffic since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and expiring lease agreements.
“I think another theater would be good,” passerby Khaleeb Moore said. “I have attended this one plenty of times, and it has always been pretty nice, but I know it is not busy at all. I can understand that after the pandemic, all theaters are getting shut down, but it is a sad era to take place with streaming and everything,” Moore added.
Hope for the Future
Sukmattie Petamber, a Jamaica Multiplex Employee, said, “Working here, I see how excited young people are to watch movies. From groups of two, three to even a dozen & more, it definitely keeps me going.” He added there should be a smaller multiplex in the building that houses the theater as well as a new retailer that will draw people to the moviehouse and the area. “Inflation is really high too; perhaps if they cut prices a little bit,” Petamber said.
For years, Jamaica Multiplex has been more than just a movie theater; it’s been a gathering place, a tradition, and a source of cherished memories for families and friends alike. As Jasmine Robinson and Irina Sumrajit express, it’s been an integral part of their lives, providing entertainment and bonding moments close to home.
While local movie-goers say they’re sad to see the theater go, Michael Mattone hints at future plans for the space. He offers a ray of optimism, suggesting that this closure may not be the final chapter, but rather the beginning of a new story.
