Movie theaters are making a comeback!
This afternoon, after an extensive three-year renovation, the former Hampton Arts Cinema is re-opening as the Sunset Theater (2 Brook Road, 631-998-0444) in Westhampton Beach.
Shuttered since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Inge Debyser, one of the new theater’s founders who served as general contractor for the renovation, was originally interested in the property after reading that the movie theater was up for sale. Worried it was going to turn into an office building or, worse, a corporate chain, she took action.
Debyser, along with a group of investors, was able to purchase the theater, originally built in 1927, for about $1.15 million three years ago, with the determined dream to keep a dedicated movie theater up and running in the hamlet.
“We worked on it for three years and we had a lot of structural problems,” she says. “So we learned how to navigate those then, of course, none of the investors that bought it actually have anything to do with movie theaters, or movies in general, so, we had to to learn about how to run a movie theater. And that took time.”
In a nod to its Art Deco past, the space has been restored with elegant, old-Hollywood aesthetics, blending historic architecture with modern comforts. (Photos courtesy of Sunset Theater)
There are two screens in the theater, with one room able to seat 141 and the other able to seat 143. “We kept the downstairs [layout] as it was and upgraded the seats to more comfortable, leather reclining chairs,” Debyser says.
The Westhampton Beach resident also notes “very early on, we decided that the whole project would not make sense without a bar, so we demolished all the storage rooms and the offices upstairs and made it into a bar.” A totally separate entity from the movie theater, the bar, slated to be open year-round, holds a full liquor license and will also offer a small bites menu.
As far as what movies will be shown, The Sunset will showcase first-run films alongside a rotating repertoire of curated classics and contemporary gems during quieter release times, according to a press release from the theater. For its inaugural showcase this weekend, it’s the new release “The Legend of Ochi” plus a list of beloved classics including “ET: the Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Iron Giant,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Bridesmaids,” “The Fifth Element,” “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Pulp Fiction.”
Tickets to attend the movies are $18.50 per person, tax included. There will also be classic concessions with the addition of a small twist, according to Debyser. “We are going to do our own private label candy cones,” she says, “which I think is a very nostalgic way of adding something to the theater.” A popular candy in Debyser’s Belgium homeland, cone-shaped candy acts as a holding vessel for smaller pieces of theater candy favorites. Additionally, Debyser is looking to provide hand-made crepes as well for movie-goers attending matinee screenings.
An upstairs cocktail bar that also offers a small menu will be open independently from the movie theater. (Photos courtesy of Sunset Theater)
“What kept us going throughout this project was a deep belief that small-town or village movie theaters have a uniquely positive impact on their communities,” Debyser says. “They contribute to the cultural and social heartbeat of a village and make it more vibrant and engaged.”
Today at 3 p.m. there’ll be a grand re-opening ceremony featuring a ribbon cutting by Westhampton Beach mayor Ralph Urban along with the village board of trustees. Debyser and other founders of Sunset Theater will also be recognized for their “preservation of the historic building and their role in safeguarding a vital piece of the village’s architectural and cultural heritage,” the press release says.
All members of the community are welcome — and, of course, there will be free popcorn.
