Cranford Theater in New Jersey reopens to moviegoers months after ceiling collapse
CRANFORD, New Jersey (WABC) -- A beloved community theater in Cranford reopened on Tuesday, seven months after a ceiling collapse forced it to shut its doors.
The owner of the Cranford Theater rolled out the red carpet for movie goers, lifting the curtain on a new chapter for the family-owned business.
"We gave the theater a full renovation, so new drapery, new screens, new projection equipment," said owner Cover Doreen Sayegh. "We are very excited and blessed that we were able to reopen the theater right in time for Thanksgiving weekend, which is one of the busiest weekends of the year for movie theaters."
The screens went dark, and the rooms silent after the ceiling in one of the auditoriums collapsed on April 30, shuttering the business for months.
"It was a quiet Wednesday night, thankfully, and no one was in there," Sayegh said.
For Sayegh, reopening wasn't a question, it was just another challenge to overcome.
"COVID shut us down. We faced three major Hollywood strikes, like the writers' strikes," Sayegh said. "We had to look for ways to fill content into our calendar to keep people coming back."
Then the collapse occurred at the theater. But with community's support, Sayegh persevered, clutching the torch that's been in her family for more than two decades.
"We're very excited to have this local gem back opening," said moviegoer Gloria Fay.
Movie enthusiasts will tell you it's the tight-knit feel of the place that keeps them coming back.
"We take my nephews here every Tuesday because they have specials and it's just nice, old-fashioned family fun to come to the movies," said moviegoer Tanja Provino.
Sayegh is gearing up for the theater's biggest production yet -- its centennial next year. That means adding more concerts and film festivals to the schedule and expanding its reach.
"It is the only hometown family-run theater left in Union County and only one of a handful left in the whole state of New Jersey," Sayegh said. "So, we want to preserve it. We want to take care of it. We want to make sure that it's here for many more generations to come."
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