Cranford Movie Theatre To Reopen In November

CRANFORD, NJ - Movie patrons still smarting from the back-to-back closings of Westfield's Rialto Theatre and the Cranford Theatre have a little something to celebrate as the downtown staple is set to open up again in November, according to Mayor Patrick Giblin.

"I am thrilled to announce the Sayegh family has announced plans to reopen the Cranford Theatre in early November," Giblin said Tuesday. "The Township of Cranford and Downtown Management Corporation looks forward to working with them to meet their deadline for reopening."

Giblin noted there is a plan for the owners to make a significant investment in cosmetic improvements including new seats and carpeting.

“If you reopen it they will come,” Giblin said.

The Cranford Theatre opened as the New Branford Theatre on Nov. 29, 1926 with Noah Berry in "Padlocked," according to Cinema Treasures. It had 1,300 seats and a Wurlitzer pipe organ. In 1927, the name was changed to Cranford Theatre and by 1941 the Cranford Theatre was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp., the site noted

The theatre was later twinned and was operated by Cineplex Odeon in the 1980's and 1990's. In 1998, it was taken over by an independent operator and was divided into five screens. Operated by Digiplex Destinations, it was taken over by Carmike Cinemas in 2014 before being taken over by NewVision Theatres in March 2017 it was renamed Cranford Theatre again, Cinema Treasures noted.

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