The Regal Union Square multiplex is not closing after all

ICYMI: Last Thursday, Regal announced that the company had signed a new lease with Related to continue the operation of the multiplex theater on Broadway and 13th Street. (News release here.)

In January, Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, the second-largest chain of movie theaters in the United States, announced that it was closing 39 locations, including the Regal Union Square Stadium 17, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. 

From the news release: "In cooperation with our partners at Related, we are excited to enter into a long-term lease agreement for this premiere entertainment destination providing moviegoers from the area the best place to watch a movie for many years to come," said Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger. 

The theater underwent a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in early 2020. 

Those pre-pandemic enhancements included the arrival of a bar... and the Pepsi 4DX auditorium, "where the on-screen visuals of action-packed blockbusters are enhanced through special effects including motion-synchronized seats, wind, fog, rain, lightning, snow, bubbles, vibration and scents." (The way "Cocaine Bear" was meant to be experienced!) Not to mention the ScreenX auditorium, "where movie fans go beyond the frame of the movie screen by expanding feature films to the left and right walls of the theater." (It takes some getting used to, IMO.)

The theater debuted in November 1998 as part of the United Artists family. 

Photo from January in case you were wondering why "Plane" is showing... and H/T Simon.

Report: The Regal Union Square multiplex to close after bankruptcy filing

Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, the second-largest chain of movie theaters in the United States, is closing 39 locations, including the Regal Union Square Stadium 17 on 13th Street and Broadway, according to published reports. (H/T Doug.)

Regal Closing Once-Busy Union Square Movie Theater In NYC as Bankruptcy Proceeds https://t.co/pxj1s2Fw4x

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 19, 2023

Per Business Insider, who first reported on the closures: 

Cineworld filed for bankruptcy at a time when the larger theatrical industry is struggling to fully rebound from the pandemic. The North American box office hit $7.4 billion in 2022, according to Comscore, down from over $11 billion in 2019 and 2018. 

And... 

Cineworld detailed the plan to reject the leases starting February 15 in a new bankruptcy filing on Tuesday. Regal is the second-largest cinema chain in the US, behind AMC, with over 500 theaters. The company's plan to close locations during its bankruptcy is fairly routine. The Chapter 11 process makes it easier for companies to walk away from leases without incurring major penalties and to press landlords for better terms. 

Regal's multiplex at Essex Crossing on Delancey and Essex was not listed among the 39 set for closure.

Regal Union Square, with 17 screens, underwent a multi-million-dollar refurbishment in early 2020. 

The theater debuted in November 1998... (image via Cinema Treasures) ...

A Union Square coffee tip

ICYMI.... the Lavazza coffee shop in the ground floor of the Regal Union Square ScreenX and 4DX theater offers any size of drip coffee for $1 before 4 p.m. (And the coffee shop is open to the public — not just for people with movie tickets.) 

This Lavazza outpost arrived here on Broadway at 13th Street in February 2020 but didn't have much time in business before the theater shut down in March 2020 at the start of the NY PAUSE. 

At the time, this Regal-owned property was undergoing a renovation that saw the number of screens expand from 14 to 17 ... and the addition of a bar. (You can bring drinks into the auditorium; there isn't any in-theater service.)

The theater returned to movie-showing action in May...

The Regal Union Square returns to movie-showing action

The Regal Union Square ScreenX and 4DX is now back in movie-showing mode here on 13th Street and Broadway ... complete with "CinemaSafe protocols in place."

The theater chain's phased reopening started last month nationwide... NYC locations were originally going to open on May 7, though that timeline was pushed up. The multiplex at Essex Crossing on Delancey and Essex is also up and running. 

Other area theaters, including the Loews Village 7, Village East by Angelika and the IFC Center, all returned on March 5 with mask requirements and assigned seating.

Theater capacity in NYC is currently at 33 percent, per Gov. Cuomo. However, the capacity restrictions will be lifted on May 19... though theaters will still need to stick to 6-foot-distancing rules.  Which theater operators are scrambling to interpret.

Regal love

On a day when Regal Cinemas were temporarily closing again across the country due to the lack of new films to screen, someone left a love letter signed from the East Village and flowers at the still-shuttered location at Union Square.

EVG reader Jason shared this photo...

The note ends with, "When you reopen, let's 'Regal and chill.'" And! "Miss you boo."

Regal Cinemas — the second-largest chain in the United States with 536 theaters — will shut all its doors today. According to Variety, the last straw for Cineworld, the parent company of Regal, came when the new (and already delayed) James Bond film's release was pushed from November to April 2021.

Meanwhile, Gov. Cuomo has refused to let theaters reopen in New York. Something which this Regal location on 13th Street and Broadway has noted... per the marquee: "Theaters open safely in 48 states, why not New York?"

Bottom photo by Lola Sáenz

Wednesday's parting shot

Outside the Regal Union Square on Broadway and 13th Street today... photo by Derek Berg...

EV heave: Regal Cinemas debuting 4DX at Union Square on March 25 with 'Batman V. Superman'

[I love the smell of 4DX in the morning...]

Those reclining seats at Loews Village VII will seem like child's play (not the movie) compared to what the Regal Union Square 14 is unleashing on March 25 for "Batman V. Superman:": 4DX.

Here is an explanation of 4DX via the 4DX website:

Advancing the movie theater experience from watching the movie to almost living it, 4DX is the ultimate in state of the art technology delivering a fully immersive cinematic experience. Inside every dedicated 4DX auditorium, motion chairs and environmental effects such as wind, bubbles, and scent work in perfect synchronicity with the action on screen.

With only the best technologies, 4DX motion chairs are equipped with three base movements of heave (move up and down), roll (move left and right) and pitch (tilt backward and forward) which can create an endless expanse of possible combinations to mimic such actions as flying and driving. The skilled team of 4DX editors, "i-Studio", are experts in maximizing the feeling of immersion within every movie without overstepping comfort bounds.

(And where else will you find something "equipped with three base movements of heave"?)

According to the Los Angeles Times, "since debuting with a 4-D screening of "Avatar" in 2010, there are now more than 23,000 4DX seats operating in 182 theaters in 34 countries." The Union Square theater will be the first with 4DX in NYC.

For a sneak preview of what the expect, check out this cheesy clip about the UK's first 4DX theater...



H/T Gothamist!

Opening day tix remain for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' at the Regal Union Square 14

You probably already know that presale tickets for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (No. VII!) went on sale last night after the new trailer debuted during halftime of that Giants-Eagles game.



Just out of curiosity we poked around the Regal Union Square 14 website and found seats still available during various times on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 (and probably other times, though we didn't actually look) ... Union Square is always a site for a marathon screening of George Lucas' saga starting Dec. 17 ... and ending six movies (and several Jar Jar Binks sightings) later with the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 3D.

No. VII is also playing at the blockbuster-friendly Regal Battery Park Stadium 11. (Does anyone else strongly dislike the Regal Union Square 14?)