Brooklyn movie theater owner Emelyn Stuart breaking barriers one film reel at a time
BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) -- Emelyn Stuart, owner of Stuart Cinema & Cafe and the only Afro-Latina movie theater owner in New York City, is changing the way people in Brooklyn go to the movies.
"I want people to feel at home," said Stuart. "But at the same time, I want to build a feeling of exclusivity, because you're special, and you deserve to feel special."
Stuart Cinema & Cafe offers great deals, including $8 movie nights, and evenings when anytime a person sees a movie after 5 p.m., they get a free shot of whiskey. Stuart calls it "the cheapest date night ... you can get." This also includes accessibility programs, such as a program for kids with autism.
"I want movies to be accessible for everyone," Stuart said. "It's not just for the people who are rich, the people who have money...it should be for everyone."
Stuart started out as a filmmaker herself, investing in independent movies and believing in people and their arts when no one else would. This is what inspired this theatrical endeavor.
"I couldn't get theatrical distribution for my films," Stuart said. "And there was someone, a gatekeeper, who basically was making that decision, 'This movie's not good enough. I don't see an audience.' And I thought, 'Well, why does he get to decide? Why can't I decide what people watch in movie theaters?'"
Meanwhile, the movie theater has a wide selection of food that Stuart's mother makes, including tres leches and empanadas.
As for Stuart herself, she is proud to pave the way for more women in leadership roles, especially in cinemas, especially given that she is the only Afro-Latina movie theater owner in New York City.
"I feel sad that I'm the only in 2025," she said. "I want to see more women...just more diversity in ownership. It's one thing to work at a theater. It's one thing to work for a studio. It's another thing to own something where you get to decide what matters, because that really is the issue - that we don't get to decide what matters. And something about women in leadership always brings compassion."
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