Permits filed for Sunshine Cinema-replacing boutique office building

[EVG file photo]

Reps for the developers of the newly branded 141 East Houston have filed the permits with the DOB for the new 9-story office building with retail space on the site of the former Sunshine Cinema.

As previously reported (via The New York Times), the new 68,000-square-foot building will be designed by Roger Ferris. Demolition of the current circa-1898 building is expected within the next two months ... with a completion date for the new glass box in late 2019...


[Via East End Capital]

East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million last spring. Gregory Kraut, a managing partner at K Property Group, recently told the Commercial Observer that they are putting the building up on spec.

The five-screen Sunshine Cinema closed on Jan. 21 after 17 years in service.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

The former Sunshine Cinema will be demolished in 2 months

[Photo from last month via @michaelkbusch]

The Commercial Observer has a Q&A with Gregory Kraut, a managing partner at K Property Group, the newish owners of 143 E. Houston St. — the former Sunshine Cinema.

Kraut offers a few details on why the property was of interest ... and when they plan on tearing down the structure built in 1898.

Here's part of the interview with a passage on the Sunshine:

Why did you want the Sunshine Cinema building?

Because we saw where retail is going. We saw what was happening on Orchard Street where they have Equinox, CVS and T.J. Maxx, and Whole Foods was on the other side so we’re right there. We’re like, Are you kidding? This is a great location. We’re putting up a spec 63,000-square-foot office building that’s going to be nine stories. Roger Ferris is our architect. He is awesome.

So no theater there.

No theater. Zero. We’re demolishing it in two months.

You don’t feel bad?

No, not at all. First of all they were trying for years to make money and they couldn’t. The area has changed, and quite frankly, the business model didn’t, and so we gave them options to renew. They had several opportunities to buy the building.

East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million last spring. They filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth back in November.

The new building permits — a 9-story boutique office complex with a retail component — haven't been posted just yet at the DOB.

The five-screen Sunshine Cinema closed on Jan. 21 after a 17-year run.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

Sunset at the Sunshine

This Sunset mural went up last evening on the gate of the former Sunshine Cinema on East Houston ... not sure at the moment who the artist is, and if the new owners of the property — who plan on putting in a 9-story boutique office building — commissioned the work.

The Sunshine closed on Jan. 21.

Thanks to @michaelkbusch for the photo earlier today!

Updated 9:30 p.m.

Faust is the artist. (H/T Mike H!)

Now playing

The former Sunshine Cinema on East Houston looking as if it has been closed for a lot longer than 16 days...

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

Sunshine state

Several readers shared photos (ones from JG are in this post) from Saturday showing some more interior demolition of the former Sunshine Cinema at 143 E. Houston St. ...



There were two dumpsters as well as a semi-trailer parked out front... (the pile of dumpsterized theater seats were apparently a hit with the kids, as seen in this video clip) ...



Workers likely can't gut too much of the five-screen theater, which closed on Jan. 21, just yet. The new owners — East End Capital and K Property Group — are hosting an event here on Feb. 15 to preview their planned 9-story office building for the property. Or, as Jeremiah Moss put it, "a developer victory dance party."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space


[Photo outside the Sunshine on Jan. 22 by EVG reader Karen]

Discarded theater seats and goodbyes at the Sunshine Cinema

There was a lone dumpster outside the just-closed Sunshine Cinema late this afternoon... workers have started discarding some theater seats...



A little later, EVG reader Karen spotted a now-former Sunshine employer putting up "There Goes the Neighborhood" on the marquee...



The message was later changed to Closed...



Workers will demolish the building here on East Houston near Forsyth to make way for a 9-floor office building.

Post updated at 7:30 p.m.

The 9-story boutique office building coming to the former Sunshine Cinema space

As you likely know, the Sunshine Cinema shut down last night ... after the 10:15 screening of "Darkest Hour."

Per previous reports, the new owners — East End Capital and K Property Group — of the building here on East Houston between Eldridge and Forsyth are planning to re-develop the property into a mixed-use retail and office project.

And in a piece on the theater's closing, the Times got the scoop on that new development...


[Via The New York Times]

Per the Times:

The Sunshine will be demolished and turned into a nine-story “boutique” office building for small to midsize companies, said Jonathon Yormak, the founder and managing principal of East End Capital.

“We’re big fans of the Lower East Side,” Mr. Yormak said. “It really needs more 9-to-5 activity and it tends to be very active, obviously, on a night life basis. We believe there is a real demand for office space and for people to work there during the day.”

The new 65,000-square-foot building will be designed by Roger Ferris and feature retail space on the ground floor. Demolition will begin by March and the new building, which is being branded as 141 E. Houston Street, will be completed in late 2019, Mr. Yormak said.

The new building permits haven't been posted just yet at the DOB.

The Sunshine Cinema opened in December 2001.

Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house.

The Sunshine Cinema shuts down after Sunday

As you've likely heard by now, the Landmark Sunshine Cinema on East Houston closes after its slate of screenings on Sunday.

News emerged last spring that East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development with retail and upstairs office space. The site includes 20,000 square feet of air rights.

In November, the new owners of the building filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth.

As for the last weekend of films, there's nothing special planned, per Deadline Hollywood, who first reported on the closure on Jan. 9.

Per Ted Mundorff, CEO of Landmark Theatres: "There's nothing to celebrate."

There are five films playing to close out the weekend, holdovers from recent weeks: "Hostiles," "Darkest Hour," "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," "In Between" and "The Room." (No Tommy Wiseau in person, though.)



At midnight, there are screenings of "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Super Fly."

Landmark will continue the midnight-movie tradition at their new West 57th Street location, which includes a cafe with a liquor license...

As our #SunshineAtMidnight series draws to a close this weekend, @TheLandmark57W will be continuing on the tradition of midnight shows for @TheRoomMovie.

Advance tickets for their first weekend (January 26-27) of #THEROOM are on sale now! https://t.co/xD6eeXrSgU pic.twitter.com/nLaUNfkbV2

— Sunshine Cinema (@sunshine_cinema) January 17, 2018

Landmark reportedly had the opportunity to buy the property, but decided against it after CB3 voted down a proposal for a full liquor license for a cafe in the theater in 2012 for pre- and post-movie drinks and dinner. As The Lo-Down reported at the time, "residents in attendance ... expressed serious concerns about the application in an area already teeming with nightlife activity."

Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house. After sitting abandoned for many years, the building was renovated ... with the Sunshine opening on Dec. 21, 2001.

A post shared by Chances With Wolves (@chanceswithwolves) on Jan 10, 2018 at 12:47pm PST

As for the future, East End's website states:

East End is planning to re-develop the building into a mixed-use retail and office project. 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 – a first in the rapidly evolving Lower East Side. 139 East Houston will offer cutting-edge design from Roger Ferris Architecture, huge windows with expansive views, high ceilings and column-free efficient space – all on top of a subway stop in a unique and exciting location. Ground breaking is expected in the second quarter of 2018.

Previously on EV Grieve:
A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

Report: The Landmark Sunshine Cinema closes on Jan. 21

The owners of the the Landmark Sunshine Cinema on East Houston have made its closing date official: Jan. 21.

Deadline Hollywood broke the story last night.

Ted Mundorff, CEO of Landmark Theatres, took a pragmatic tone when reached by Deadline. “We’ve known it was coming,” he said. No special programming or commemoration is planned on the final weekend, he confirmed. “There’s nothing to celebrate.”

The Sunshine moved up "Dog Day Afternoon" one weekend, and the Al Pacino classic will play alongside "Super Fly" as the theater's last midnight movies on Jan. 19-20.

To recap, last May, the Post reported that East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development with retail and upstairs office space. The site includes 20,000 square feet of air rights.

In November, the new owners of the building housing the theater filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth, per The Lo-Down.

Landmark reportedly had the opportunity to buy the property, but decided against it after CB3 voted down a proposal for a full liquor license for a cafe in the theater in 2012 for pre- and post-movie drinks and dinner. Landmark now offers those amenities at a new theater on West 57th Street.

The Sunshine had been expected to close in early 2018. The recent arrival of some special screenings at the theater gave hope to some Sunshine regulars that, perhaps, the place would remain open for a few months longer...



... and there was a tweet from the Sunshine about the Oscars...

We'll be back live-tweeting #TheOscars on March 4 so be sure to mark your calendars, everyone!

— Sunshine Cinema (@sunshine_cinema) January 8, 2018

The Sunshine opened on Dec. 21, 2001.


[2001 photo via Facebook]

Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house.


[Photo taken during the BombCyclone last Thursday]

The end is nearing for the Sunshine Cinema

[EVG photo from August]

It's getting closer for the end credits to roll at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema on East Houston.

As The Lo-Down first reported yesterday, the new owners of the building housing the theater have filed demolition permits to take down the three-level structure here between Eldridge and Forsyth.

Back in May, the Post reported that East End Capital and K Property Group bought the building for $31.5 million with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development with retail and upstairs office space. The site includes 20,000 square feet of air rights.

First sign of the impending new development came in August when workers were taking soil samples...


[EVG photo from Aug. 10]

Landmark reportedly had the opportunity to buy the property, but decided against it after CB3 voted down a proposal for a full liquor license for a cafe in the theater in 2012 for pre- and post-movie drinks and dinner.

Landmark instead decided to invest in a state-of-the-art theater (with an adjoining bar-cafe) that recently opened on West 57th Street.

The Sunshine is expected to close in early 2018. No date has been set. As of now, the Sunshine website lists midnight movies scheduled through Jan. 27 with a possible grand finale of "Dog Day Afternoon."

And a little history of the theater/building, via its website:

Opened December 21, 2001. Built in 1898, the Sunshine Cinema building was formerly the Houston Hippodrome motion picture theatre and a Yiddish vaudeville house but for over 50 years it had been shuttered serving as a hardware warehouse. Landmark has restored the theatre back to its artistic roots and now offers the art-house film lover five state-of-the-art screens dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film as well as non-traditional studio programming...

Given the numerous alterations through the years, the building was never deemed landmark-worthy by the city.

Anyway, I've been taking a few photos each time that I visited the theater in recent months, such as when I was the only person in the auditorium for a screening of "Wetlands" in September...













... and one day maybe...


[East End Capital]

The East End Capital website states that "ground breaking is expected in the second quarter of 2018."

For what?

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 – a first in the rapidly evolving Lower East Side.

A celebratory ad on the purchase of 139 E. Houston St., current home of the Sunshine Cinema

News broke last week that developers East End Capital and K Property Group bought 139 E. Houston St. for $31.5 million. As the Post reported, the current tenant here, the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, will close when its lease expires in January 2018.

On Tuesday, the involved parties took out a full-page ad in the Post (thanks to Blue Glass for the photos)...







The partners say they look forward to a "transformative retail future." Given the negative reaction to news of the Sunshine's demise, some local residents likely won't be offering their congratulations.

Patch had an update last evening on the building's future:

Greg Kraut, a managing partner at K Property Group, did not confirm to Patch rumors of the theater's imminent closure, but noted that the cinema's lease would expire in 2018, and that the developers would look to fulfill "whatever the community thinks" the space should be used for.

And Landmark's position?

"We have been notified that the building was sold and we certainly hope to operate for as long as the new owners go through the permitting process with the city," a spokeswoman for the Landmark Theatres company said in a statement.

The Sunshine opened here between Forsyth and Eldridge in 2001.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Report: Sunshine Cinema on East Houston to close in January