Madison Residents Rally To Bring Back Historic Movie Theater

MADISON, NJ — After an unexpected and unexplained closure in May, Madison residents are rallying in support of the historic Bow Tie Cinemas, a Madison cultural icon.

The Madison movie theater, last owned and operated by Bow Tie Cinemas, had shown movies for over 90 years. Bow Tie purchased the theater in 2013, and upgraded the projectors to digital and and added stadium seating.

The four-screen theater was sold in February to Parsippany-based Saxum Real Estate, and the company said it would continue to show movies, as Patch reported at the time. It was the borough's only theater.

Requests to Bow Tie for comment on the closing and to Saxum on the buildings future were not returned.

So far, over 400 people have signed a petition calling for the historic movie theater to be preserved.

"We, the Concerned Residents and Friends of Madison request that the Mayor and Council uphold the vision of the Borough of Madison’s Historic Civic Commercial District by preserving our town's only movie theater. This theater has served residents for generations and has enriched our lives and our community.," the petitioners wrote. "...The new owner’s intention to demolish the theater to build condominiums is not consistent with the site’s history or best use."

Commenters on the petition agree: the movie theater made Madison special.

"We are already missing this theatre. Downtown will not be the same without it. It's a big loss for Madison," Christine Kenney wrote.

Giovanna Baratto echoed the sentiment, writing, "Great memories there. Enough with the condos! Madison needs to keep its quaint, small-town atmosphere."

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