Maplewood Theater redevelopment plan update - March 2025
mrincredible said:
Yikes. Is there a tl;dr version?
The rest, without knowing who the redeveloper or what the plan might eventually be, are all the things that would be “satisfactory to the Township.”
DaveSchmidt said:
The rest, without knowing who the redeveloper or what the plan might eventually be, are all the things that would be “satisfactory to the Township.”
Well, that’s not too open-ended.
mrincredible said:
Well, that’s not too open-ended.
The document closes lots of ends, but they’re in the l;r version.
mrincredible said:
Yikes. Is there a tl;dr version?
We’re building more apartment buildings. (I didn’t read it. That’s what I expect to be constructed since it’s by the train)
the_18th_letter said:
We’re building more apartment buildings. (I didn’t read it. That’s what I expect to be constructed since it’s by the train)
People gotta live somewhere…
dave said:
With retail below for nail salons.
That joke is played out. Haven’t seen a new nail place in years.
dave said:
With retail below for nail salons.
IV.C Permitted Uses
One or more of the following uses shall be provided at street level along Maplewood Avenue, and shall be permitted in any location within the Redevelopment Area:
- Retail services, but not including hair or nail salons
DaveSchmidt said:
dave said:
With retail below for nail salons.
IV.C Permitted Uses
One or more of the following uses shall be provided at street level along Maplewood Avenue, and shall be permitted in any location within the Redevelopment Area:
- Retail services, but not including hair or nail salons
Is that the only bullet?
jimmurphy said:
People gotta live somewhere…
They do, and train stations seem to be an in demand amenity. Developers should try to build them taller tho, the shorter ones are leaving a lot on the table.
Mayor Adams announced that the movie theater property on Maplewood Avenue has been rented and movies will return to Downtown. I think the company is taking over SOPAC movie theater also!
jamie said:
Mayor Adams announced that the movie theater property on Maplewood Avenue has been rented and movies will return to Downtown. I think the company is taking over SOPAC movie theater also!
Yea!
mrmaplewood said:
jamie said:
Mayor Adams announced that the movie theater property on Maplewood Avenue has been rented and movies will return to Downtown. I think the company is taking over SOPAC movie theater also!
Yea!
Phew
It’s cool they are going to operate Maplewood as well
I'd LOVE having a movie theater in Maplewood again! Will there be more than one theater? Assume so, but .... it's been a long time!
I was at a SOPAC show a couple of nights ago and they announced the upcoming reopening of the movie theaters. It would be nice, and perhaps boost attendance, if they had some second run, classics, indy stuff and not just the current mainstream fare shown in other theaters. For the latter, I'm more inclined to go to a large theater multiplex, like the place on Route 22, than a place with little theaters.
bub said:
I was at a SOPAC show a couple of nights ago and they announced the upcoming reopening of the movie theaters. It would be nice, and perhaps boost attendance, if they had some second run, classics, indy stuff and not just the current mainstream fare shown in other theaters. For the latter, I'm more inclined to go to a large theater multiplex, like the place on Route 22, than a place with little theaters.
A movie theater (or two) that one can walk to in either town would present a huge upside I think. Right now if my teenager wants to go see a movie it involves a car ride. I’d love it if they could walk into town and meet friends for a movie. That’s just one possible advantage. Either cinema could also do matinée specials for seniors.
CinemaLab at SOPAC did have some deals where they played older movies. They also had movies for kids on weekend mornings, animated movies from years past and the like.
Maplewood did show out-of-the-mainstream movies in addition to more commercial releases. But those don’t generally pay the bills unless you can attract a lot of people from a wider area. That theatre also needs a lot of maintenance and improvement to make it more of a destination. Hopefully that’s part of the redevelopment plan.
I get the walkability premium. It's a bit beyond walkable for me and have to confess I never went to a movie there. If they had alternative stuff like, say, the annual animated Oscar nominated shorts they show in Montclair, I'd be there in a second. The live theater, in contrast, has long been my favorite live entertainment venue based on sound (and act) quality, price, comfort, proximity, and ease of access with the big commuter lot. We also manage to get our favorite 2nd row seats for every show just by jumping on the tix as soon as shows are announced.
I agree - I think smaller venues are going to have to explore accommodating a lot of cinematic tastes to remain viable. I do think that major commercial releases are going to be the backbone of ticket sales. But when you have five screens there’s some room to innovate.
The problem that a lot of people don’t necessarily understand is the very narrow margins that movie theaters have to cope with. A large percentage of the ticket price goes back to the distributor. Most of the theaters money comes from concessions.
Possibly a string of movies on a theme, or actor.
Say, a Tom Cruise or James Cagney or Wester or Noir themes. Schedule five or 10 films and sell the series at a discount. More money is maid off of popcorn than the price of the ticket.
bub said:
I was at a SOPAC show a couple of nights ago and they announced the upcoming reopening of the movie theaters. It would be nice, and perhaps boost attendance, if they had some second run, classics, indy stuff and not just the current mainstream fare shown in other theaters. For the latter, I'm more inclined to go to a large theater multiplex, like the place on Route 22, than a place with little theaters.
They tried this, not that the marketing was very good. We saw Wizard of Oz there. There was maybe 20 people there.
jfinnegan said:
They tried this, not that the marketing was very good. We saw Wizard of Oz there. There was maybe 20 people there.
Thinking on it, I would ask what ad/promo did the film get? I recall "The Lost Picture Show" used to get at least 3/4 full theaters for some of their shows.
This morning, I spent 20 minutes, watching a movie critic analyze ONE scene from the movie , "Road To Perdition." ---- One, two minute scene.
If you show a movie and explain why it is good -- Another time, I spent an hour and maybe 30 minutes watching "Johnny Guitar" and than another 45 minutes with it's director, Nicholas Ray.
The local film society has good movies. I went to some before my hearing gave out. Maybe, combine some of their effort with showings of classics.
I want it to succeed.
bub said:
I was at a SOPAC show a couple of nights ago and they announced the upcoming reopening of the movie theaters.
Were you at the Storm Large show? I thought she was great. I'd seen her a few times before.
I'm so pleased that this Maplewood institution is re opening. I think that it would be great if management also showed old films or foreign films. I know that I'd go.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
Were you at the Storm Large show? I thought she was great. I'd seen her a few times before.
Sorry just saw this. It was John Pizzarelli.
From Sheena:
Friends and neighbors — we’ve all needed some good news, and I’m thrilled to share that we’re officially back to the movies! 
Today and tomorrow, head over to Box Office Cinemas (1 SOPAC Way) and enjoy a movie for. It’s the perfect excuse to get out, see neighbors, and bring that energy to our downtown.I also had a chance to connect with their District Manager, Tom Arnold, and there’s even more to look forward to:
They’re heading to a convention in Las Vegas next week to explore new lounge-style seating that will elevate the entire viewing experience
Plans are in motion to upgrade concessions, including expanded hot food optionsThis is just the beginning — and it truly wouldn’t have happened without all of you. Your voices, your advocacy, and your commitment to having a vibrant, arts-activated downtown made this possible
.So grab some popcorn
, bring a friend, and enjoy the show — South Orange, the movies are back! Spread the word!
Thank you, Mr. Kula for your investment in our community
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Updated Draft Redevelopment Plan Available for Review
The Township of Maplewood is pleased to announce that the updated draft redevelopment plan for the proposed Redevelopment Area, identified on the Township’s official tax maps as Block 12.02, Lots 100, 100.01, 169, 173, 174, 175, 175.01, and 176, has been posted and is now available for public review. This plan outlines the proposed changes and improvements aimed at enhancing the community's infrastructure, amenities, and overall quality of life.
The draft Redevelopment Plan was updated in March 2025. This draft includes input from community meetings, stakeholder meetings, and the governing body. The Township Committee now has the opportunity to review this draft and determine how best to proceed.
Draft Redevelopment Plan - Draft Redevelopment Plan, March 2025