There is no shortage of foodies in New York City, and movie theaters are beginning to take notice. New York City movie theaters are increasing shunning popcorn for gourmet dinners and craft cocktails.
Movie theaters that offer food and drink, including Florida-based iPic, the Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse and Williamsburg’s Nitehawk, are all expanding throughout the city, according to the New York Post.
“Our research showed 78 percent of people eat before or after going to the movies,” iPic president and CEO Hamid Hashemi told the Post.
Last year, iPic announced that it planned to open a 46,000-square-foot, eight-screen auditorium at 11 Fulton Street at the South Street Seaport by 2015. The theater will feature waiter service and leather chairs — some fully recline and even come with blankets.
And Faith Hope Consolo of Douglas Elliman told the Post that iPic is looking to expand with even more NYC locations: “They’re looking in Long Island City where there’s [few movie options]; they’re looking in Downtown Brooklyn; they’re looking in [other parts of] Queens and Upper Manhattan. Manhattan proper has a lot of theaters, but upper Manhattan does not. It would be a great addition to the Harlem landscape.” [NYP] –Christopher Cameron