New Yorkers Battle to Save Historic AMC Theater Site from NYU Langone Takeover

On a rainy Sunday afternoon, over 100 New Yorkers gathered outside AMC Kips Bay 15 in Manhattan to protest the impending closure of the beloved multiplex. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal led the demonstration, reciting Nicole Kidman’s iconic AMC Theatres ad in a tribute to the neighborhood’s long-standing cultural institution. Despite a strong box office summer, the Kips Bay AMC is slated to close by the end of the year, a move that has sparked significant community outrage.

The site of the AMC Kips Bay, which is the second-largest multiplex in Manhattan for the chain, was privately purchased by NYU Langone over a year ago. However, several city officials, including New York State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, expressed surprise and frustration, stating they only learned about the deal after it had already been finalized. Senator Gonzalez highlighted the lack of proactive engagement from NYU Langone with the community, emphasizing that it was incumbent upon the city officials to reach out to the university to understand the acquisition.

The “Save the Kips Bay AMC Theater Rally” was meticulously organized by the Eleanor Roosevelt Independent Democrats, a local political club. Judith Gross, the president of the group, conveyed the members' devastation but held onto hope that both AMC Theatres and NYU Langone would acknowledge the community's strong sentiments. Gross articulated the community's stance, asserting that the neighborhood is not merely an extension of NYU's campus or its medical offices, and vowed to guide the entire community in protesting such takeovers of their remaining community spaces.

Local businesses have also joined the rallying cry. Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar, a prominent Irish pub located near AMC Kips Bay, promoted the protest on social media and offered free drinks to attendees who showed a selfie from the rally. Desi Murray, the owner of Paddy Reilly’s for three years, underscored the importance of the theater for the neighborhood's young population, calling its potential loss a significant blow to the community. Long-time patrons at the 40-year-old pub lamented the prospective loss of a gathering space that has been a fixture since 1973, reinforcing the deep-rooted presence of a theater in that location.

The conflict in Kips Bay is seen by some, including Senator Gonzalez, as a microcosm of larger battles, drawing parallels to the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger in Hollywood, where prominent voices argue that such consolidations diminish opportunities and resources. Gonzalez stressed that in both scenarios, whether in Hollywood or in local communities like Kips Bay, everyday people are asking to be included and have their voices heard, especially when big partners enter, potentially limiting community options.

In response to the protests, NYU Langone issued a statement to Variety, affirming its commitment to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare and explaining that the purchase of the Second Avenue property was explored to expand clinical services due to growing demand at their Manhattan campus. NYU Langone stated that the site’s proximity to their hospital could support long-term community healthcare needs. They clarified that the purchase remains under contract and is not expected to close until early next year. Furthermore, they revealed that years before NYU Langone was approached, AMC and the landlord had entered into a lease agreement granting either party the right to terminate at any time, promising updates on clinical plans once the transaction is finalized.