Basie Center Cinemas in Red Bank serving alcohol at the movies
It's showtime on the rocks.
Basie Center Cinemas, 36 White St. in Red Bank, is now selling selling alcoholic beverages to moviegoers 21 and over.
“Basie Center Cinemas is now the only area indie movie house that can offer patrons a glass of wine, a local craft beer or a cool, canned cocktail to accompany their feature presentation,” said Izzy Sackowitz, chief operating officer of the Count Basie Center, in a statement.
The nearby Count Basie Center for the Arts is the owner and operator of the movie theater. Basie Center Cinemas will strive to feature products from hyper-local purveyors, including area craft breweries and wineries, according to the Basie.
More: Bruce Springsteen pays tribute to late 'Rebel Rouser' guitar legend Duane Eddy
The theater is permitted to serve alcohol following the signing of a 2023 law allowing licenses for nonprofit movie theaters dedicated to promoting the performing arts.
The Basie Center Cinemas is also home to open mic comedy nights, film festivals, the monthly Improv Jam, and late-night screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
The space is available for private events, too.
More: Asbury Park Palace Amusements artifacts, including Tillie, are on NJ endangered list
“We’ll be announcing a Hispanic heritage film festival in coming weeks, along with other events to bring new patrons into the cinema,” Sackowitz said. “This is indeed a lifeline for us, and we intend to do all we can to activate this historic space.”
The Basie Center Cinemas originally opened as a movie theater called Cinema III in 1971, according to Cinema Treasures. The Basie Center took over the former Bow Tie Cinemas in 2020.
"Fall Guy" and "Wicked Little Letters" are showing this weekend at the theater. Visit thebasie.org/venue/basie-center-cinemas for more information.
Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey arts scene.
Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Basie Center Cinemas serving alcohol at movies in Red Bank
