What do you do when you open the first theater in Bayonne in more than 30 years? You hold a party, of course!
That’s what Frank Family Theaters did to introduce new Cinema 12 located at the South Cove Commons Mall in Bayonne.
Although you needed a special invitation to go, the place was packed with people from all aspects of the community including government officials and business leaders.
Technically, the theater has been up and running for several weeks since the premiere of the new Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith, earlier this month. But for many guests, this was their first glimpse of the theater complex.
Local resident Bob Uzdauines said he had seen the new Star Wars movie twice since the theater opened and had nothing but praise for the new theater.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “The sound was excellent. The seating is great. I’m bringing my wife to see the new Batman movie .”
Bob met his wife years ago at the DeWitt. So this is a kind of anniversary celebration.
Eddie O’Rourke, who is known locally for his work as president of the Bergen Point Business Association and for his Elvis Presley Tribute show, said after a tour of the facility, “This was needed in Bayonne. My first reaction is that in an era where people have home theater – most people come to movie theaters and go home disappointed thinking the place is just a glorified home theater. That’s not the case with this place. This is state of the art and you really do get an experience that is larger than life.”
The new theater is also good news for the local Liberty Car Club that held events in the vacant parking lot, O’Rourke said.
“Everybody thought the car shows would have to move, but the owner of the theater said he will welcome them.” O’Rourke said. “[Bruce Frank] said they can still have their show and that he would provide them space in the parking lot and he would even tie in movies such as Grease for a 1950s theme.”
Darren M. Smith, a systems designer for Digital Play, a theater design company, came to study the operations here. He said that Frank Family Theaters provide a quality venue.
“And each time they build a new theater, they get even better,” he said.
Council President Vincent Lo Re said this was a wonderful addition for the city of Bayonne.
“This will provide our citizens with a critically needed entertainment center,” he said.
Bayonne Chief Financial Officer Terrence Malloy said the theater would help attract people to this area.
The deal
Perry Grabois, a real estate agent who brokered the deal on behalf of the theater group, said he had had his eye on the theater for some time before bringing the Frank Family Theaters together with the Alessi family which owns the property.
Grabois, who works for Fameco Co., said negotiations for the 32,000 square foot space began last October. Once the deal was reached, Bruce Frank went to work.
“It took only 75 days to get the place in shape,” Grabois said. “It was only a shell when he started.”
While the South Cove theater currently offers 12 screens (all of which provide SLS Sound), Frank plans to offer two more screening rooms for private parties and for movie-makers who may need a place to look over the days shooting. The smaller rooms would be geared towards art or independent films or private parties.
John Fussa, Bayonne’s city planner, said the theater would help anchor the shopping center. It would also provide amenities for residents of Bayonne that they would have to travel out of the city to get.
“It fills a gap in the quality of life,” Fussa said.