By ED SALVAS
After being dark for 18 months, Asbury Park’s ShowRoom Cinema is about ready to reopen and hoping the public is ready to return to the movies.
The Cookman Avenue theater has a new owner and Manager who are working to welcome the audience back to its three screens. The theater closed in March of last year due to the pandemic. Daria Parr of Manasquan bought the ShowRoom Cinemas from founders Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino and hired Jeff Lundenberger as manager.
A self-described “film fan,” Lundenberger, who lives in Asbury Park, worked at the ShowRoom for three years as a weekend manager and creative director. He is as anxious as the fans who saw movies at the ShowRoom for the last nine years to open the doors again.
“We’ve been hearing for the past year and a half about the death of theaters and we will need the support of the community to continue its success,” he said.
Right now, there are a lot of details to work out. He said the big three screens are getting new equipment as some of the equipment was rented, negotiating with distributors for films, and getting the snacks that are a big part of the movie-going experience.
“We have a date,” Lundenberger said when asked for an opening day, “but we need to be sure everything is in place.”
He said all of the ShowRoom’s former employees have also agreed to come back.
Lundenberger said the ShowRoom will continue to feature smaller films, documentaries, and international films and he’s been putting teasers on Facebook with possible selections. This is also the time of year for new releases and the Holiday Season is an important time for new films to open
The ShowRoom has three screens, theater one has 66 seats, theater two has 25 and the smaller theater upstairs has 15 lounge seats that have a “living room” feeling. All three are available to rent for private events and screenings. The ShowRoom will also institute On-Line ticketing which will allow customers to select their seats when buying their tickets online.
A new website is coming at www.ShowRoomCinemas.com. Follow the progress on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
