In a week when New York City's culture aficionados were already reeling from huge losses—the passing of Dolly Parton, Yayoi Kusama, and Tim Curry—news of the impending closure of the AMC Kips Bay came as yet another tough blow.
On Monday, Variety reported that the beloved New York City movie theater would be shutting its doors by the end of the year. AMC told the outlet the property owner was terminating the lease. Once the news broke, moviegoers turned to the internet in anger and sadness, and theorized about who bought the building.
Assemblymember Keith Powers's office eventually confirmed that NYU Langone had purchased the shopping center where the theater resides about a year ago. The move isn't surprising, as the area is home to NYU Langone and university graduate buildings. Powers is a supporter of saving the theater from closure: urging people to sign a petition earlier this week and sending a joint letter with other elected officials to NYU Langone. His office told Hell Gate that NYU Langone confirmed their ownership with him via email. NYU did not respond to Hell Gate's request for comment.