East Patchogue theater to be razed
Brookhaven's town board has awarded a contract to demolish the vacant Plaza Theatre. (May 13, 2011) Credit: David Pokress
Coming soon to the Plaza Theatre in East Patchogue: The wrecking ball.
Demolition of the vacant, 49-year-old movie theater on East Main Street is to begin Aug. 30, Brookhaven Town Councilman Timothy Mazzei said Thursday at a town board work session. The long-awaited demise of the Plaza — once a popular venue for film fans but now an eyesore — will be marked with a 10 a.m. ceremony, he said.
His announcement was met with cheers from fellow town officials.
The theater showed its last movie about 25 years ago and has been dormant since. The town plans to spend $725,000 to demolish it, and the property likely will be sold for development, town officials have said.
Efforts by Suffolk County to take over the property started in 2006. The county handed the task over to the town two years ago, and the county this year loaned Brookhaven $350,000 toward the Plaza’s demolition.
The town initiated condemnation proceedings after the owner rejected the town’s $1.19-million offer to purchase the property, town officials said.
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