Lynbrook merchants optimistic as theater reopens

Since it opened in 2018, the Regal Lynbrook & RPX theater has attracted residents and people from neighboring communities into the village.

After seeing a movie, many of the influx of people that visited the theater stopped at many of the businesses on Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook, including restaurants and stores.

In the past few months, with the pandemic in full effect, the theater had to close in order to abide with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ban on large gatherings and to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, which caused nearby restaurants and stores to lose business. 

However, after many months of closure, the theater recently reopened in accordance with New York state law and in cooperation with the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and regulations. Although many local businesses have not noticed an immediate increase in customers since the theater has not returned to operation for very long, many of them remain optimistic for the future of their businesses. 

“I haven’t noticed much of a change in the flow of customers that come through my shop, but I am very hopeful for an increase in customers soon because as the holidays approach, more people will attend the theater and then they are bound to visit us to shop,” said Bruce Levitt, the owner of Mur-Lee’s Men’s & Boy’s Shop. “I know a few people who have already visited the Lynbrook theater and they said they have been doing a great job with social distancing. I just hope that as more movies come out, our business will increase.” 

Mur-Lee’s closed for about three months amid the pandemic, which Levitt said took its toll on the business during the spring, which is typically their busiest time of the year. After reopening in recent months, Levitt said, business was slow at first and when he heard that the Lynbrook theater was reopening, he was pleased. However, recently, right before the theater reopened, Levitt started to see an increase in customers because more people have been planning events again. 

“There is no correlation between my recent increase in customers and the Lynbrook movie theater reopening because I started to have more customers right before the theater reopened, due to people being more comfortable planning events and their need for dressy clothing,” he said. “My true hope is that a vaccine will be found for the virus, so that people will feel more comfortable coming out to shop and support all the local Lynbrook businesses.” 

Many other local business owners on Atlantic Avenue echoed similar sentiments, agreeing that they remain hopeful that the reopening of the movie theater will attract more customers to them. 

“I’m hoping for a huge change in customers and that things will get better for my business,” said Vincent Sorrentino, one of the owners of Angelina’s Italian restaurant. “I truly hope things will get better and this pandemic will get under control, so that people can feel more comfortable coming out to eat.” 

Joe Carusone, the owner of Vincent’s Pizza, also said he was optimistic for an increase in business.

“Right now, it’s too early to tell if the movie theater reopening has caused more customers to come to my restaurant because the theater just reopened,” he said. “I’m just remaining positive and I think as long as people start to feel more comfortable coming out, all the businesses on Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook should expect to see an uptick in customer numbers.”