Plan To Revive Landmarked UWS Metro Theater Gets Second Wind

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — It's official: Plans have been revealed to revive an iconic Upper West Side landmark—the long-closed art deco Metro Theater.

Last week, NEW Friends of Metro Theater (NFoMT), an organization committed to revitalizing the historic Metro Theater at 2626 Broadway, between W. 99th and 100th streets, publicly endorsed a new plan for the cherished venue.

For years, NFoMT has actively sought potential buyers to revive this landmark building, which has been dormant for nearly two decades, maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with the owners, the Bialek family.

Back in 2022, plans were in place for the space to reopen as an Alamo Drafthouse, but these were ultimately shelved, a situation further complicated by the death of the Metro's longtime owner, Albert Bialek, in November 2023.

But now it appears they may have found a suitable future owner.

In a statement released last Wednesday, NFoMT announced their full endorsement of a plan proposed by film producer Ira Deutchman and film consultant Adeline Monzier, founders of Upper West Side Cinema Center, Inc. (UWSC), a nonprofit committed to reintroducing world-class art cinema to the neighborhood.

"Those of you who have been following me know that for a number of years, I’ve been trying to find a way to boost art cinema exhibition in Manhattan above 14th Street, more specifically on the Upper West Side," Deutchman said. "As stated many times before, the neighborhood is desperately in need of augmenting the good work done by Film at Lincoln Center and New Plaza Cinema. Well, now the word is out."

Deutchman and Monzier aim to acquire and renovate the theater into a dynamic five-screen movie house showcasing classic films, foreign cinema, independent hits and major new releases, IndieWire first reported.

Their plan additionally features an education center and a street-level cafe/lounge.

“Ira & Adeline bring longstanding relationships with national and international cultural institutions such as Film at Lincoln Center, New Plaza Cinema, Woodstock Film Festival, BAM and MOMA, Cinecitta and Unifrance," President of NFoMT, Liza Cooper, said. " Additionally, their impressive advisory board, including Martin Scorsese, John Turturro, Ethan Hawke, Griffin Dunne, and Bob Balaban, gives us confidence that they can bring our Metro Dreams to fruition."

Deutchman, a longtime Upper West Side resident, is an independent film producer with over 150 credits to his name. He is also Professor Emeritus at Columbia University and envisions the Metro Theater as a hub for artistic expression and community engagement.

“The Upper West Side is desperately under-screened for the devoted art film audience that exists," Deutchman said. "Since the demise of both the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and the Landmark 57, there are now only three full-time art screens plus one part-time screen north of 14th Street. This is in comparison to over twenty dedicated art screens in downtown Manhattan and a similar number in Brooklyn."

Monzier, a resident of Harlem, believes, "The Metro’s central location and accessibility to subway and bus lines make it a perfect destination for the uptown community, including the underserved Upper East Side."

Both Deutchman and Monzier are well-known figures in the domestic and international film business.

In addition to the celebrities serving as advisors, the project has garnered support from a distinguished lineup of film industry veterans, including Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas), Russ Collins (Marquee Arts and Founder of the Art House Convergence), Richard Peña (Director Emeritus of the New York Film Festival), Jonathan Sehring (former President of IFC Entertainment) and Paul Richardson (former CEO of Landmark Theaters).

"The funds necessary to implement this plan are significant, but I’m convinced the group we have put together will make it clear to potential funders that we can make this happen," Deutchman added.

For more information on how to support this project, visit uwscinema.com.

The Metro Theater replaced a seven-story tenement building and first opened in 1933. It is one of the few surviving neighborhood art deco theaters in the city, according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's 1989 designation.

Over the years, numerous proposals for the space, which has been closed since 2005, have faltered.