Nick Hudson and Maria Dente updated the board on the progress of their renovation project for the Malverne Cinema and Art Center at the May 6 Village Board meeting.
The Malverne, as it is often called, closed in fall of 2024 after the Stampfels could not reach a lease agreement with the landlord of the property. The Stampfels had operated the theater since 1990, and it had been open since 1947 before its closure.
Hudson and Dente signed a lease for the theater in December of 2025 and began their renovation project in January of this year. They plan to turn it into a multipurpose venue, with three theaters, a live performance space and a combination coffee lounge and bar.
To operate the bar, Hudson and Dente needed to apply for a liquor license. “The front room that looks out at Hempstead Avenue is going to turn into a café and bar, and it looks like our liquor license will probably be approved and ready to go by July,” Hudson said. “That’s basically aligned with when we are hoping to open.”
According to Hudson and Dente’s plan, one theater will screen premieres and classic movie re-showings, one will be reserved for afternoon matinees, and one will be dedicated to independent and documentary film screenings. They also knocked down a wall between two separate theaters to turn it into a live performance stage.
“The back two theaters, which were the original, the 40-foot wall that's in the middle was able to be taken down and turned into a larger space that we can do live events at,” Hudson said. “So, whether it's live events, comedy, music, sensory friendly showings of movies, it will be accessible for all in that back room,” Dente added.
In early April, the volunteers helping Hudson and Dente began redoing the theater’s floors. At the Village Board meeting, he said that the old floors have been removed, and that new floors have been “picked out and will be installed in a couple weeks.”
Mayor Sullivan congratulated Hudson and Dente on their progress, and spoke to the collective effort and involvement of the Malverne community in restoring the theater and preparing it for reopening. “One of the first things you said to me when you were looking to take over the space is that it's got to serve the community,” Sullivan said to the pair. “I think that the collective efforts are starting to show their fruits. And I think it's something that a lot of different groups are excited about.”
