The owner of the Cranford Theater rolled out the red carpet for movie goers, lifting the curtain on a new chapter for the family-owned business.
A beloved community theater in Cranford reopened on Tuesday, seven months after a ceiling collapse forced it to shut its doors. The owner of the Cranford Theater rolled out the red carpet for movie goers, lifting the curtain on a new chapter for the family-owned business.
"We gave the theater a full renovation, so new drapery, new screens, new projection equipment," said owner Cover Doreen Sayegh. "We are very excited and blessed that we were able to reopen the theater right in time for Thanksgiving weekend, which is one of the busiest weekends of the year for movie theaters." The screens went dark, and the rooms silent after the ceiling in one of the auditoriums collapsed on April 30, shuttering the business for months.For Sayegh, reopening wasn't a question, it was just another challenge to overcome. "COVID shut us down. We faced three major Hollywood strikes, like the writers' strikes," Sayegh said. "We had to look for ways to fill content into our calendar to keep people coming back." Then the collapse occurred at the theater. But with community's support, Sayegh persevered, clutching the torch that's been in her family for more than two decades.Movie enthusiasts will tell you it's the tight-knit feel of the place that keeps them coming back. "We take my nephews here every Tuesday because they have specials and it's just nice, old-fashioned family fun to come to the movies," said moviegoer Tanja Provino. Sayegh is gearing up for the theater's biggest production yet -- its centennial next year. That means adding more concerts and film festivals to the schedule and expanding its reach. "It is the only hometown family-run theater left in Union County and only one of a handful left in the whole state of New Jersey," Sayegh said. "So, we want to preserve it. We want to take care of it. We want to make sure that it's here for many more generations to come." Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo,
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Jersey teen charged in murder of his motherA 17-year-old from Mays Landing is now in custody.
Read more »
New Jersey School Board Member Receives Death Threats, Leading to Legal ActionA Marlboro Township, New Jersey, school board member, Danielle Bellomo, is seeking legal protection after receiving threatening text messages. The messages, including threats to her life, led to a protective order against a man connected to another school board member. The case highlights concerns about community safety, political polarization, and the response of school officials to threats.
Read more »
New Jersey School Board Member Faces Death Threats, Sparking Legal Battle and District ScrutinyA Marlboro Township, New Jersey, school board member is involved in a legal case concerning death threats and a disturbing group chat, leading to a protective order and criticism of the school district's response.
Read more »
New Jersey sets April 2026 special election as Sherrill resigns House seat ahead of inaugurationNew Jersey Democratic Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill resigned from her seat in the U.S. House, and the current governor on Friday set special election dates to fill her position for next year.
Read more »
Two New Retail Sportsbooks Open in Nevada and New JerseyCaesars Entertainment opened new sportsbooks in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Oceanport, New Jersey last week.
Read more »
New York City Thanksgiving weekend forecast: What you need to know for the parade and moreThanksgiving forecast for NYC, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
Read more »