Chester Movie Theater Out, Gym In

The days of the long lines bending down the windy corridor past the old Art of Dance Studio in one direction and past the Ho Ho Kitchen in the other direction on opening night are long gone.

But the Clearview Cinema 6 Theater in Chester has been a part of the community for more than three decades, and on May 19, the end credits roll.

The confirmation of the closing comes on the heels of an announcement that Cablevision had succeeded in selling its Clearview Cinema Theaters chain.

Last week, Bow Tie Cinemas of Ridgefield, Conn., announced it has purchased 41 Clearview Cinema theaters from Cablevision. Cablevision bought the cinemas in 1998 and put the chain up for sale last year; Clearview currently has 26 theaters in New Jersey. 

According to Chester Cinema 6 manager Katrina Streisguth, the last show will take place a week from Sunday. Streisguth, who began working at the theater chain in 2008, said the staff was hoping the sale of the theaters would have offered Chester a reprieve. 

"We were hoping," Streisguth said."We just didn't get enough people in here."

The current staff is looking into possible transfers to other theaters still in operation like Mansfield, Ledgewood or Parsippany. The Morristown Clearview Cinema at Headquarters Plaza will also be closing on May 19.

Working It Out

Residents who are upset about the theater closing will have the opportunity to work out their feelings in the new Nitroflex Gym that is scheduled to open in that location in August.

"The new gym is going to be state of the art and offer an indoor cycling studio, group fitness studio, a functional training area with artificial turf, child care, executive locker rooms, two infrared saunas in each of the locker rooms, and an upper level refreshment lounge that overlooks the main gym floor," said owner Stephen Tylee. "Tons of cardio equipment all with its own personal TV screens and a full array of selectorized machines and free weights."

Tylee, who also owns another gym in Cedar Knolls said that his goal is to help fill the void left by Excercise when it closed two years ago.

"I want to get those people back to Chester. I live in Chester, my daughter goes to Dickerson and I love this town," Tylee said. "For the last two years, people have been telling me to open a gym in the heart of Chester."

Tylee said the renovation will be extensive as there are six screens with sloping floors to deal with, but that the response he has received from the pre-sales center next to the Shop Rite has been excellent.

"My goal is to get the word out around town and give Chester a first class fitness facility with a friendly, personal touch," Tylee said.

So will the lines on once formed for mattinees and premieres might be made for Hot Yoga? 

One thing is certain, after May 19, the breezeway won't be the same.