MovieWorld Theater Ousted From Douglaston Plaza

DOUGLASTON, QUEENS -- Petitions and pleas to community leaders couldn't save a beloved local theater from being pushed out of Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center to make room for a Lowe's store.

MovieWorld owners announced on Facebook this week that the family-run theater would host one last movie 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."

Though MovieWorld still had six years left on its lease, mall owners Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation negotiated a contract with the theater's management years ago that would allow 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 make 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-shuttered storefront and MovieWorld's lower level space in Douglaston Plaza.

AAC representatives argued they desperately needed Lowe's as an anchor store to fill Macy's former 157,000-square-foot footprint and keep the shopping center from going out of business.

"At the end of the day, I have to keep this open," said A.J. Levine, Chief Operations Officer for AAC. "We've considered every option."

The theater's supporters - some even clad in "Save MovieWorld" T-shirts - argued the big-box retailer was unnecessarily ousting a thriving family-owned business from the center.

"We do not want to leave, but it is in the lease and it is rock solid," MovieWorld General Manager Russell Levinson said. "If they choose to exercise that, there is nothing we can do. That being said, we are doing just fine and would like to remain in the plaza."

MovieWorld's announcement on Monday evening made it clear that was still the case.

"We are not closing for any other reason than we are being required to under the terms of our original lease," the Facebook post read. "A Lowes store will be taking the entire lower level of the shopping center and construction will start right away."

The theater has become a community staple since it opened at the Douglaston Plaza in 1983. Weeks after word first got out in January 2017 that it could get the boot from the shopping center, locals launched a "Save MovieWorld Douglaston" petition on Change.org.

The petition has since amassed more than 1,500 signatures, with dozens flooding in even after MovieWorld announced its closure.

Riss Peter said she was among the first to sign the petition and write a plea to keep the theater open.

"I'm so sorry to find out that my words and signature, along with those of countless others, fell upon deaf ears," she wrote in a comment on the theater's Facebook announcement. "You will be very sorely missed."

Peter was among nearly 800 Facebook users to comment on MovieWorld's Facebook post, which also garnered more than 1,000 reactions and nearly 850 shares by Wednesday afternoon.

The theater called on patrons to share their photos and stories of MovieWorld for a special surprise on the theater's closing night. Several responded with memories of first dates, family traditions and coming-of-age moments had at the theater over the last 35 years.

"I’m so sad," wrote Facebook user Ann Marie Machalek. "My husband and I had our first date at Movieworld on Dec 2, 1984. It was a terrible movie, but a wonderful connection. We just celebrated 26 years of marriage and we still try to catch a movie at our favorite theater!"

Ivette Morges-Toro, said she and her husband "were falling in love" every time they were able to see a movie for just $6 on "Wacky Wednesday."

"It (opened) up a new door to our relationship," she wrote. "I can't emphasize how much I'll miss going to the movies on Wednesday's."

TJ Beaury reminisced on going to MovieWorld for the first time without adult supervision to see License to Drive.

"Given the complete lack of stores on the upper level it’s disappointing that they can’t do something to keep the theatre," he wrote. "Thanks for the memories."

MovieWorld said they plans to reciprocate that love and thank customers with a celebration on their last day in business. More details will be available on the MovieWorld website and Facebook page in the coming weeks, management said.

"We thank all of the schools, church groups, seniors, students, group homes, our employees, and all of our regular customers," the post read. "It has been an amazing experience being able to bring movies to all of you."

Lead photo via Google Maps/October 2017