Cranford's Theater Reopening. What About Westfield?

WESTFIELD, NJ - The Cranford Community is going to get their theater back, as Tuesday night Mayor Patrick Giblin announced the downtown spot will be renovated and reopened in November.

But where does that leave Westfield's Rialto Theater, which is owned by the same family?

"I spoke at length to the owner of the Rialto last night who informed me that they will be reopening the Cranford theater some time in November. The timeline for the Rialto will take longer," Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said. "While I wish the Rialto was opening simultaneously, I’m pleased to know that our North Ave corridor will have a local theater that benefits all of the surrounding communities."

The East Broad Street business opened initially in 1922 and changed ownership and names several times over the decades according to Cinema Treasures. The theater opened with Richard Barthelmess in "Sonny" and Buster Keaton in "Cops." Around 1966 it was taken over by United Artists. Two more screens added on May 26, 1978 and three screens were added in 1997 after it was purchased from United Artists. Later taken over by Digiplex, followed by Carmike Cinemas, in March 2017 it was taken over by NewVision Theatres and renamed Rialto Theatre once again, the site noted.

The size of the Rialto played into the decision, Brindle noted.

"The Rialto, being a much larger building, would require extensive renovations, including more costly projection equipment, in order to reopen," Brindle said. "Since we are engaging in ongoing, larger conversations about the eventual overall use of the space, the owner understandably doesn’t want to make a significant short-term investment knowing that we are collectively seeking a much broader use and greater opportunity for our community."

Brindle said she will be seeking volunteers to work on plans for the theater once discussions are a little further along.

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