Residents and elected officials gathered outside the AMC Kips Bay 15 in Manhattan on Sunday to oppose the planned closure of the neighbourhood cinema, which is expected to remain open only until the end of 2026.
Campaigners assembled at the 15-screen venue on Second Avenue, chanting “Save our theatre!” and holding signs calling for the cinema to be preserved. The site has operated since 1999 and is regarded by supporters as an important community and cultural space.
The protest follows the planned acquisition of the retail complex by NYU Langone Health. The hospital system has said the purchase, which remains under contract and is not expected to be completed until early next year, could help it expand clinical services and meet growing demand for healthcare in Manhattan.
Community seeks talks over AMC Kips Bay closure
State Assemblyman Keith Powers, whose district includes the area, was among the officials backing the campaign. He said his office had received thousands of calls from constituents worried about losing the cinema and criticised the lack of consultation before the lease termination was announced.
“All we are asking for today is to be engaged and have our voices heard,” Mr Powers said. “If they bring us a plan, I can confidently say we will work with them.”
Manhattan borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal and state senator Kristen Gonzalez have also joined calls for greater transparency, alongside other local representatives and neighbourhood groups.
Mr Powers said AMC wanted to remain at the site after he contacted the company directly. “AMC wants to stay,” he told amNewYork, adding that the cinema’s closure was not the result of a mutual agreement.
NYU Langone said the lease between AMC and the landlord had included a provision allowing either party to terminate it at any time. The hospital system said the clause predated its consideration of the property and that it appreciated the community’s interest in the cinema.
“When the owner of the Second Avenue property approached us most recently regarding a potential sale, we recognised that the site’s proximity to our hospital could help support those long-term community healthcare needs,” NYU Langone said in a statement.
The cinema remains open while residents and elected officials seek further discussions with the hospital system. A petition calling for AMC Kips Bay 15 to be saved has gathered more than 9,000 signatures, according to Spectrum News NY1.
