Suffolk Theater
118 E. Main Street,
Riverhead,
NY
11901
118 E. Main Street,
Riverhead,
NY
11901
6 people
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SOUTHAMPTON, NY, JUNE 9, 2005 — Flynn + Stott Architects, P.C. of Southampton, New York, announced today that they have been retained by Castle Restoration and Construction of Long Island City to finalize plans for the interior alterations of Suffolk Theater and to design a 4,000 square foot addition.Robert Castaldi, president of Castle Restoration and Construction, purchased the Suffolk Theater in January of this year from the Town of Riverhead. Although the building most recently operated as a movie theater, Mr. Castaldi plans to focus on traditional performing arts such as jazz shows, and musical and comedy productions, and keep only one screen for viewing films. The one story addition planned for the back of the structure will house critical support space such as make-up and dressing rooms, costume storage and a workshop for constructing sets.
Richard F. Stott, AIA, owner and president of Flynn+Stott Architects, is enthusiastic about the project. “With Castle’s extensive experience rehabilitating historic properties, it is a pleasure working with Mr. Castaldi and his staff. In addition to making this space state-of-the-art and functional, we are all committed to preserving the integrity of the original art deco style that is the hallmark of this beautiful old building,†said Mr. Stott.The theater is expected to be completed and open to the public in spring 2006, but plans are already in the works for a new addition, adding three more stories to accomodate corporate, private and community functions. Renovations to the existing space include construction of a 30-foot stage, installation of new seating and a sound system, replacing plumbing, electrical, heating and air-conditioning systems, and the conversion of the balcony seating area to private dining boxes where guests can enjoy dinner with the show.
Flynn + Stott Architects P.C. is a full service architecture firm located on Main Street in Southampton with residential and commercial projects throughout the East End of Long Island. Further information is available from the firm’s web site, www.flynnstott.com, or please call 631.283.1777. The Suffolk Theater can be reached at 631-208-0003
Rosen:
I recall hearing he was a committed and enthusiastic teacher. He proudly told his employees at the Hampton Arts theater that he had his students (maybe you?) eating a welfare/food stamps diet for a week to see what it felt like. We smiled politely, but it was hard to suppress a guffaw (or a snarl), since we were literally living on peanuts, or rather peanut M&M’s and making about $40/week.
chelydra:
Mr. Wesley, you mentioned as owners of the Hampton Arts and Suffolk, was my high school teacher at Berner High School, in Massapequa, in the late 60s-early 70s.
I never went to the Suffolk. I don’t live near Riverhead, but I know that the marquis was rusting away for a long time. There’s something to be said about old theater signage when its lit. Modern multiplex signage is contemporary without flash, and pannache (did I spell that right?). I was in Riverhead over a year ago, and the marquis was ablaze in all its glory. I was also to the Riverhead Grill, which is beautiful (and that from a diner enthusiast). Yes, there’s something to be said about shiner diners, and workig neon like the Suffolk Marquis.
MOVIE HOUSE DEAL
Stage is set to sell theater in Riverhead
BY JAMIE HERZLICH
STAFF WRITER – Newsday
December 28, 2004
The last time the Suffolk Theatre’s doors were open, “Dirty Dancing” was playing on the big screen.
After years of false starts, Riverhead officials said they expect to authorize a contract tomorrow to sell the 1933 art deco movie house to Long Island City-based Castle Restoration and Construction. The group would purchase the 800-seat to be turned into a performing arts center, officials said.
“We didn’t even dream possible a full restoration,” said Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale.
The town, which has owned the theater since 1994, had almost given up on a performing arts center use this summer when it issued a request for proposals that included a variety of other expanded uses. Castle was one of the early bidders.
“We expect to close on the deal no later than Feb. 18,” Cardinale said.
Castle president Robert Castaldi said renovations should take about a year and would include refurbishing the interior, and replacing the electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems. Meanwhile, he wants to keep the building and architectural design intact.
He said the intent is to be open seven days a week from about 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. A variety of shows including jazz, comedy and off-Broadway musicals would be offered, he added. During the week, the center might host events such as antique auctions and corporate functions, and he says he would like to keep a single screen for movies.“Whatever fills the seats,” Castaldi said.
As part of the purchase, Castle will acquire two nearby parcels of land. That will allow it to eliminate a blind alley adjacent to the property for better parking access and expand the back of the building to push out the stage and add dressing rooms.
For information on the Suffolk Theatre E-mail
In my first post, above, I accidentally misspelled the name of the last operator – should be WESLEY (or possibly Westley or Westly).
Here’s some news on the theater and its environs, from Newsday :
Remaking Riverhead’s downtown
BY MITCHELL FREEDMAN
November 6, 2004
Riverhead’s downtown business district could be completely transformed during the next decade, as the town board this week created several new zoning categories to encourage development and – at the same meeting – gave a warm reception to the newest candidate to rehabilitate the Suffolk Theatre.
Together, the actions open the door to construction of new five-story mixed- use retail and apartment buildings, professional offices and waterfront marinas, and also allow the reopening of an 800-seat Main Street art deco movie house that has been closed for nearly two decades.
“The face of downtown Riverhead will be very different a decade from now,” said Supervisor Philip Cardinale. “The potential for great change has been created by the new zoning … developers believe the creation of 250 to 500 apartments in the downtown area is very attractive, and when you bring in the people, the restaurants and specialized retail stores and attractions and night clubs will follow.”
The town board’s unanimous vote to approve five separate new downtown zoning categories was one of the final steps needed to fully implement Riverhead’s new master plan.
…[here I edited out several paragraphs about projects and zone changes]…
At the same meeting, the town board gave a warm reception to Robert Castaldi, owner of Castle Restoration and Construction of Long Island City, who has submitted a bid to restore and renovate the Suffolk Theatre and convert it into a performing arts center.
Because of a complex tax issue, Castaldi – whose firm has extensive experience in the rehabilitation of historic buildings – must acquire the property by February.
He expects to use the building to show films during the week, and for extensive live entertainment on weekends.
Councilman Edward Densieski called the firm “exceptionally well qualified” to reopen the big 1933 art deco movie house, which stands at the heart of the Main Street business district and which has been closed for 17 years.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
This article originally appeared at:
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Riverhead is booming …the locals have gone to town hall and asked it to slow down……
Quote:
*Eastern Long Island’s spectacular real estate boom, which has been gathering momentum for decades, eventually has to reach into Riverhead. When it finally does, it would be nice if the Suffolk Theater was still there *
I hate to break it to you but Riverhead is already there. Riverhead is booming…Starbucks, TGIFridays, Starbucks….The boom already hit Riverhead years ago.
By the way, when I was a little kid in the early 1950s, I used to get Riverhead mixed up with New York City! The lights were that bright, and Main Street was that bustling, especially for christmas shopping! The News-Review came out twice a week, with funny pages. And the Suffolk Theater was to Riverhead what Notre Dame is to Paris! Going there was a pilgrimage! The only problem was, it was sold out when there was a big new movie in town!
Hey, I love Riverhead! I have family there! But the town planners are totally corrupt. The most magically beautiful & unique little ecosystem on Long Island (if not the planet) was recently bulldozed for a golf course with the blessings of the Town Fathers. With that sort of vision guiding the town’s development, we’ll be lucky to get a Home Depot annex in the Suffolk Theater.
As i was president of the merchant assoc. and a consultant for the Suffolk theater in 1994- 95 i can tell you the town has its problems but not at all as you have said.
YERY POOR ,CRACKHOUSE INFESTED MAIN STREET??Riverhead is noHamptons but only a small section is poor . Just average folks….
The Suffolk Theater is probably the most magnificent classic 1930’s movie palace surviving in any American small town. Its decor, more Art Neuveau than Art Deco in style, is still intact – although endangered by lack of maintenance. The attempted restoration was hugely expensive, but that was due more to corruption that the amount of work actually.
Riverhead is a very poor town that has some great old buildings on Main Street, finer than anything in the nearby Hamptons, left over from its heyday circa 1900, when it was the center of a thriving agricultural economy and contained all the government offices and courthouses of Suffolk County. Repeated campaigns to “revive” the crackhouse-infested Main Street have been ineffectual; meanwhile, the by-pass a mile north has been developed with huge super-stores and fast food places.
Eastern Long Island’s spectacular real estate boom, which has been gathering momentum for decades, eventually has to reach into Riverhead. When it finally does, it would be nice if the Suffolk Theater was still there and available for its long-awaited reincarnation as a cultural center.
The other theater on West Main Street was a bizarre-looking shabby place with a facade of yellow and black diamond shapes, which showed second-run westerns and B movies. It folded in the 1960s, and was torn down a few years later.
The last owner that actually operated the Suffolk Theater (formerly the flagship of the United Artists chain on Long Island) was Ritchie Wesler (stepson of Joe Puma, see Hampton Arts) but despite his efforts, no one came to the movies, even with very cheap admission prices. The last great event at the place, so far as I know, was a anti-nuclear benefit concert starring Pete Seeger around 1980.
The old Vail Music Hall around the corner is even more of a gem, and it has attracted most of the limited supply of grassroots volunteer energy available for restoring theaters in Riverhead.