The AMC Kips Bay 15 multiplex at 570 2nd Ave. will close by the end of the year after property owner NYU Langone Health exercised its contractual right to terminate the theater’s lease early, according to statements from AMC and local officials. The closure of the 15-screen location, which opened in 1999 and is the chain’s second-largest multiplex in Manhattan, has triggered pushback from neighborhood groups and city representatives.
Lease Termination and Theater Closure Timeline
According to an AMC spokesperson speaking to Variety, the theater will shut down operations following the landlord’s decision to cut short the lease agreement before its scheduled expiration. While a formal closure date has not yet been finalized, AMC expects the multiplex to run through the end of the year.
The property sale and lease termination came to light publicly on Aug. 27, when local Assembly Member Keith Powers announced the transaction in a video message to constituents, according to reporting by amNewYork. Tenants and neighborhood coalitions reported receiving notice of retail evictions around the same time, sparking immediate community concern over the loss of local amenities.
Neighborhood Pushback and Coalition Response
On Aug. 31, a collective known as the Save Kips Bay Coalition sent a formal letter to NYU Langone Health CEO and dean Alec Kimmelman, urging the hospital system to reverse course or preserve the neighborhood spaces. The coalition includes the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, the Alliance for Kips Bay, the Waterside Plaza Tenants Association, the Stuyvesant Town & Peter Cooper Village Tenants Association, and several other local tenant groups.
“When a major institution becomes a property owner in a residential neighborhood, it also becomes a neighbor,” said Jessica Lavoie, vice president and chair of the quality of life committee of the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, as cited by amNewYork. Lavoie emphasized that residents rely heavily on the retail complex for daily essentials, including the neighboring Fairway supermarket.
Impact on Manhattan’s Movie Theater Landscape
The loss of the Kips Bay multiplex removes a major entertainment anchor for residents on Manhattan’s East Side. According to Variety, the theater offered a wider range of films alongside a towering IMAX screen, serving as a quieter alternative to high-traffic locations like the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square.
Following the closure, AMC’s remaining Manhattan footprint will be restricted to locations including the 19th Street 6, Village 7, Lincoln Square 13, Orpheum 7, 84th Street 6, and Magic Johnson Harlem 9.
Upcoming Public Hearings
Manhattan Community Board 6 announced plans to host a public hearing regarding the theater closure. The session is scheduled for Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., with additional details hosted on the board’s official website.
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