New York City’s East Side Will Lose Yet Another Movie Theater with Imminent Closure of AMC Kips Bay

New York City is losing yet another movie theater. Per an AMC spokesperson, the AMC Kips Bay 15 “will continue operating until the end of 2026, at which time the theatre will close following the property owner’s decision to exercise its contractual right to terminate the theatre’s lease before its scheduled expiration.” Talk about heartbreak.

Located on the East Side of Manhattan, the 15-screen theater, including an IMAX auditorium, first opened in 1999. AMC took over operations of the location in 2006, making it the chain’s second-largest multiplex in Manhattan.

In recent years, Manhattan’s East Side has lost several theater locations, including the 86th Street location of City Cinemas in May 2019, the Second Ave. location of the Beekman Theatre in September 2019, and the 62nd Street location of the CMX CinebistroLenox Hill in October 2018. The Third Ave. location of Cinema 123 by Angelika is currently for sale.

The chain also operates Empire 25 in Times Square, the 34th Street 14 next to Madison Square Garden, the 19th Street 6, the Village 7, the Lincoln Square 13 (with the city’s own true 70mm IMAX theater), the Orpheum 7 on the East Side, the 84th Street 6 on the West Side, and the Magic Johnson Harlem 9.

“The theatre has been an important part of the Kips Bay community and surrounding neighborhoods, providing guests with a place to enjoy the magic of the movies together,” an AMC spokesperson told IndieWire. “We are immensely grateful to our guests for their loyalty and support throughout the years.”

Details of the theater’s closure are still being finalized, and a formal closure date will be announced in the coming months.