Hudson Valley Movie Theaters Preparing To Reopen

Michael Woyton
·2 min read

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Following the news that movie theaters in New York can now reopen with restrictions, several theaters in the Hudson Valley are preparing to open their doors to the public once again.

On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during a briefing that theaters across the state, excluding those in New York City, can reopen starting Friday.

The order allows movie theaters to open at 25 percent capacity and carries with it mandatory guidelines, social distancing requirements and other precautions such as:

  • Movie theaters will only be allowed to reopen if the county of locations has an average positive coronavirus testing rate of less than 2 percent in a 14-day period.

  • Masks will be required at all times except when seated, eating or drinking.

  • Assigned seating will be required.

  • Additional staffing will be required to ensure compliance in occupancy, traffic and seating.

  • Theaters will be required to meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation and purification standards

Now that theaters can reopen, movie theaters around the Hudson Valley will be opening or planning to reopen.

Regal is opening its locations in New Rochelle at New Roc City and Poughkeepsie at the Galleria starting Friday. The Fishkill Regal has not been announced yet to open. Theaters in Rockland and Orange counties cannot yet open because of their respective county's average positive coronavirus testing rates.

AMC is set to open its Port Chester location Friday.

Showcase Cinemas theaters at the Cross County Center and Ridge Hill in Yonkers and the City Center in White Plains will be open for business Friday.

Bedford Playhouse in Bedford announced it will be reopening. “reOpening Night” at the Playhouse will begin Friday and continue through the weekend with a complete lineup of blockbuster films: "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," "Monsters, Inc.," "La La Land," "Casino Royale" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone."

The Lyceum Cinemas in Red Hook, the Roosevelt Cinemas in Hyde Park and the New Paltz Cinemas in New Paltz will be open to the public Friday.

Officials at Carmel Cinema 8 in Putnam County told Patch they are planning on opening Friday, Oct. 30. The delay is to ensure that the theater is up to code and in adherence to all guidelines.

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said, with restaurants, gyms and other businesses allowed to open, it didn't make sense to keep movie theaters closed.

“We need to help businesses come back, not stand in their way. Plus, people are feeling Covid fatigue," she said. "We have to give them options and trust they will make the right decisions to stay safe.”

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This article originally appeared on the New Rochelle Patch