Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema Will Close On January 21

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — Landmark's Sunshine Cinema on the Lower East Side will close on Jan. 21 before it is completely demolished to make way for an office building and shops.

Deadline first reported the historic theater's closing date on Tuesday.

"We’ve known it was coming," Landmark Theatres CEO Ted Mundorff told Deadline.

There will be no programming to mark the theater's final weekend, he said, because "there’s nothing to celebrate."

The closing date was confirmed to Patch by a Landmark spokeswoman.

The Landmark Theatres chain re-opened the LES cinema in 2001 after restoring the iconic exterior of the theater.

The building, located at 143 E. Houston St., was sold to East End Capital and K Property Group last year for $31.5 million. In November, the new owners filed plans with the city to completely demolish the building, which was first built in 1898.

The land will be turned into an office building and retail shops, according to the building's new owner.

"East End is planning to re-develop the building into a mixed-use retail and office project," according to a note on the developer's website. "While pursuing tenants interested in utilizing the structure in its current form, work is also underway for a new, best-in-class office building with retail at the base."

Image credit: Ciara McCarthy / Patch