Residents of Mattituck, New York celebrated this week when it was announced that their hometown movie theatre would soon be reopening, featuring a host of new amenities and playing first-run Hollywood films. Beginning in 1988, the Mattituck Cinemas had operated as an eight-screen independent theatre in this Long Island, New York community, but was forced to close down in 2022 after the theatre struggled to return to pre-pandemic attendance levels.
However, instead of shutting down for good, owner James McKinnon made the decision to invest in an extensive renovation to return his theatre to its status as a popular entertainment venue in the community. The building was reconfigured to reduce the number of screens from 8 small-ish houses to 3 larger auditoriums, with impressive wall-to-wall screens and luxury recliners seating. Full-service dining was introduced through a partnership with an adjacent restaurant, Lucharitos. Other concessions options were also expanded, including beer, wine and specialty cocktails. The final result has just reopened, just in time for the upcoming holiday rush.