CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. — Two native Bow Tie Cinemas film theaters – Criterion Cinemas in Saratoga Springs and Movieland 6 in Schenectady – not too long ago grew to become the primary in New York to serve beer, wine and cider underneath new pointers set by the State Liquor Authority.
The steerage, the results of a declaratory ruling made by the SLA earlier this yr, permits for film theaters to serve beer, wine and cider to theatergoers with out having to have a desk at each seat. Beforehand, theaters had been restricted to consumption inside a café space adjoining the foyer. Or, if the theater had a full restaurant kitchen, theater employees had been solely permitted to carry drinks to a patron at their seat with a set desk.
“We’re the primary movie show in New York state that has a license that can permit patrons to take their beer, wine and cider into the auditoriums,” Joe Masher, chief working officer of Bow Tie Cinemas, defined at a press convention on Thursday in Schenectady.
Whereas each space Bow Tie places have provided alcohol since they opened, “Folks can now take their drinks and luxuriate in it and sip it through the present, as an alternative of worrying about consuming it within the foyer shortly earlier than the film,” he stated.
Past enhancing the customer expertise, “The significance of that is important,” Masher continued, expressing his opinion that the earlier laws didn’t appear truthful for theaters like Bow Tie Cinemas, which don’t function full eating places.
The brand new coverage went into impact on Thursday on the two native Bow Tie places – simply in time for a giant film weekend with the discharge of The Batman.
The change additionally comes after a tough few years for film theaters nationwide as they’ve handled pandemic-related challenges.
Bow Tie Cinemas, a four-generation family-owned cinema firm headquartered in Connecticut, owns and operates luxurious cinemas in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Colorado.
“This amenity brings in essential income,” Masher stated, noting that it’s going to assist the corporate hold ticket and popcorn costs low.
On the occasion, Masher thanked the SLA and Governor Katy Hochul for having the foresight to lastly, after a 10-year battle, get laws handed that enables Bow Tie Cinemas to perform this purpose.
The brand new SLA regulation is anticipated to profit one other business too. Via this new regulation, film theaters – which have been longtime anchors for a lot of upstate downtowns or industrial corridors – will have the ability to instantly assist native craft beverage producers inside their communities. Bow Tie Cinemas works with native craft beverage producers corresponding to Druthers Brewing and 9 Pin Cider.
Sam Aaron, a consultant for 9 Pin Cider, sees the brand new steerage as a approach to assist the Albany-based cidery bounce again from the pandemic. “Being from the state of New York is a central a part of our model and this partnership with Bow Tie is so thrilling,” he stated on the press convention. “This new ruling goes to be a very thrilling alternative for us.”
Bow Tie Cinemas has a superb observe report of responsibly serving alcoholic drinks, Masher stated. Concerning the prevention of underage consuming, he shared that the theaters will promote one drink per buyer with identification, by a bartender that has participated within the correct security coaching program. Moreover, most drinks are served in clear cups, and ushers are skilled to stroll via the auditoriums on a routine foundation and test to guarantee that alcohol is being consumed by the individual that bought it.
Native enterprise leaders are pleased to see the brand new pointers go into impact on the fashionable Criterion Cinemas, positioned on the nook of Church Avenue and Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs.
“That is such a badly wanted coverage change and one which was lengthy overdue,” stated Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president Todd Shimkus. “We hope will this assist our native movie show to succeed right here for a very long time. This group waited a long time for a movie show to return downtown after which the pandemic hit them laborious. I imagine it will entice extra individuals to exit to the flicks and create one other income stream for the theaters themselves.”
Darryl Leggieri, president of Uncover Saratoga, agrees. “I feel it’s excellent news for an business that has been hit particularly laborious through the pandemic,” he stated. “That is another income stream to offset their shortfalls, they usually can now supply another amenity which is analogous to different dwell leisure locations. This legislation change is also one other alternative for our native craft beverage business.”
Extra details about Bow Tie Cinemas and its choices will be discovered on-line at bowtiecinemas.com.
