AMC Kips Bay 15, one of New York City’s most popular movie theatres, will close on January 3, and AMC CEO Adam Aron has spoken out forcefully about why it is going.
AMC Kips Bay (Credits: Variety)
In a letter to the Kips Bay community, Aron said that while “AMC wants to stay”, nearby hospital NYU Langone “wants us gone”, as the hospital plans to grow its medical facility on the site.
AMC Kips Bay Closing Date Confirmed for January 3
Aron addressed how NYU Langone has not engaged with any of AMC’s alternatives to share the space, leaving the 15-screen theatre with no path to remain. The closure is not just about the cinema: the building also houses a Fairway supermarket and a bank, both of which are also expected to close.
For regular moviegoers in the neighbourhood, the loss is a significant one. Kips Bay 15 has long been a go-to multiplex for Manhattan audiences, and its January 3 shuttering removes a major big-screen option from the area just after the holiday season.
Why AMC Kips Bay Is Closing
The dispute centres on competing uses for the same building. NYU Langone, which sits nearby, wants to expand its medical facilities, while AMC has argued for a shared arrangement that would let the theatre continue operating. According to Aron, that conversation never got anywhere, with the hospital not engaging with AMC’s proposed alternatives.
Theatre closures tied to redevelopment are a familiar story in New York, where rising land values and institutional expansion often squeeze out entertainment venues. What makes this case stand out is how publicly Aron has framed it, directly naming the hospital and drawing a sharp contrast between AMC’s wish to stay and NYU Langone’s plans.
What Happens Next for Kips Bay Moviegoers
With the January 3 date now set, audiences have a final window to visit the theatre before it closes for good. The loss of the Fairway supermarket alongside it also means the neighbourhood faces a broader change, not just the end of a cinema.
Whether any last-minute arrangement emerges remains to be seen, but Aron’s letter suggests AMC has exhausted its options for now. For now, Kips Bay 15 joins a growing list of beloved city cinemas lost to redevelopment, and its final screenings in early January are likely to draw nostalgic crowds.
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Source: Variety — read the full story there.
