Landmark Bradley Beach movie theater renovation finally underway; see what's planned

BRADLEY BEACH - The seats at the old movie theater on Main Street are on their way out.

Cinema Lab, which purchased the former Showroom Bradley Beach in early 2022 and renamed it The Bradley, has begun a project to remodel and renovate the theater with a goal to reopen it by early 2025.

"We are trying to bring back communities that have lost the heart of Main Street," said Luke Parker Bowles, chief executive officer of Cinema Lab.

The project will remodel the entire theater. The Bradley will have one screen with about 220 new seats and a space in the back for private events or screenings. The movie house also will have a new concession lounge and a pub.

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Originally, the plan would have created three screens from one, but the costs "didn't make business sense," Parker Bowles said. "Also, it would have taken an additional six months on top of that and we've been keeping the public waiting for way too long, not out of choice."

The former Beach Cinema was originally built in 1915 as a vaudeville theatre named the Palace. It began showing movies about 10 years later.

Cinema Lab faced some challenges. It took longer to raise the money to fund the project, Bowles said. And after COVID, there were some delays. For instance, it took longer for the delivery of the seats, which are now in storage.

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"It's been a long time," Parker Bowles said. "We are very grateful to our investors and to the Kickstarter investors who at the beginning put a little bit of money in."

The Kickstarter campaign, which occurred in 2021, raised $65,090 from 332 backers . "We're thrilled to announce that construction on The Bradley officially begins today! This marks a major milestone in bringing our shared vision to life," Cinema Lab wrote Monday in an update on Kickstarter.

"Your belief in this project has been crucial in getting us to this point. We can't wait to welcome you all to the finished theater and celebrate the reopening of this cherished community landmark."

The theater will be playing a mix of first-run movies and independent films. Cinema Labs also has a relationship with the Metropolitan Opera In New York City and the National Theater in the United Kingdom and will be showing their performances as well, Parker Bowles said.

What makes The Bradley different? The theater will have pub that will feature international ales and local beers. "We really want to lean into the local offerings," Parker Bowles said. Customers can have a beer in the pub or at their movie seat while watching a film.

"The concessions will be very much elevated," Parker Bowles said. "We're not just going to be doing chicken tenders."

The Bradley will have a partnership with Vic's, the landmark Italian restaurant next door . Customers will be able to order a personal-size pizza that can be brought to their seat, Parker Bowles said. "We're looking forward to that partnership."

The pub and concession lounge also will be open to patrons who may not want to see a movie but want to sit, read their email with a cup of coffee or have a Bloody Mary while their kids are watching a film. "We want a place where you can relax, that has a great vibe but also feels cozy and elegant," Parker Bowles said.

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 27 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Landmark Bradley Beach movie theater renovation finally underway; see what's planned