Malverne community rallies to save beloved theater with grassroots effort
The duo hopes to expand its role into a full-fledged arts venue, hosting live performances and community events.
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The Malverne community is coming together in a big way to breathe new life into a historic local landmark — the Malverne Cinema and Art Center. Once a bustling hub for moviegoers and families, the cherished theater has been shuttered since September, leaving a void in the neighborhood.
“That movie theater is the nucleus. It’s the heart of downtown,” said Tanji Garcia, a Malverne resident.
The theater has long held a special place in the hearts of locals. For residents like Naomi Schoen, of Rockville Centre, its closure marked more than just the loss of a venue — it was a blow to the community’s spirit.
“This was our go-to place and we were in mourning when they closed,” she said.
But that grief is now turning into hope. Thanks to a grassroots campaign launched by Malverne resident Nick Hudson and Lynbrook’s Maria Dente-Higgins — two strangers united by their shared love for the cinema — the theater may soon enjoy a second act as a nonprofit arts center.
“Maria and I didn’t know each other before this,” said Hudson. “We met because of the Malverne movie theater needing a renaissance.”
That renaissance began in earnest Thursday night, when Hudson and Dente-Higgins held the group’s first public meeting. Hundreds of community members packed the venue, with the line to get inside stretching down the block — a testament to just how deeply the theater is missed.
“It’s a renaissance to bring back this theater,” said Dente-Higgins during the meeting.
The plan isn’t just to reopen the theater for film screenings. The duo hopes to expand its role into a full-fledged arts venue, hosting live performances and community events.
With overwhelming community support and a nonprofit application underway, the Malverne Cinema may soon be more than just a memory. For now, neighbors wait in anticipation — eager for an encore worth the wait.
