Long Beach Movie Theater Reopens After Being Wrecked By Sandy
LONG BEACH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Another symbol from the recovery of Superstorm Sandy has appeared on the South Shore of Long Island.
As CBS2's Dana Tyler reported, the Long Beach Cinemas movie house has reopened for business after being wrecked by floodwaters during the storm nearly three years ago.
Clerks on Thursday gladly accepted orders for soda and popcorn Thursday, as the doors reopened at the theater – long a mainstay of the oceanfront community. But like everything else near the ocean, Sandy left it wrecked.
"When it closed down, you know, it kind of got me sad, because it's another half hour car trip to the next theater," said Jack Saggio, 12.
Teens once again crowded the ticket counter Thursday. But the reopening of the theater brought people far and wide.
"It's nice to see the theater open after three years," said Christine Rucci of Manhattan. "It's hard to believe what this town; what it went through three years ago, and now it's alive, and we came from the city to spend the week here in our vacation from Manhattan."
But what's old is also new. Many of the returning customers said they appreciate some of the new features of the theater.
Moviegoers can now reserve, and even choose the seats they want. And all the seats, soaked by Sandy's floodwaters, have been replaced with chairs that have more room to stretch out.
The reopening after multi-million dollar repairs has also meant Rudy Ferrera got his job back as a ticket clerk.
"It was my first job," Ferrera said. "I got to see movies for free – that was nice. And I know a lot of people in town, and it's nice to see them."
Judith Cohen said the reopening will boost the recovering economy year-round.
"Very important, because there's nothing for the kids to do when it's raining," said Cohen, of Long Beach.
The big screens in all four theaters have been replaced. There is also a new roof, and critical equipment has been moved higher in hopes that the silver screen is never shut down again.
The Long Beach theater had hoped to reopen last year, but repairs, like everywhere else in town, took much longer than expected.