Moviegoers at City Center 15: Cinema de Lux in White Plains are accustomed to being joined by other cinema enthusiasts- bipeds, generally speaking. But they have allegedly been joined by other pint-sized buddies and quadrupeds hoping to catch the latest flick.
Following reports that children had left Cinema de Lux with small skin bites, the theater was recently cited for a possible pest infestation, according Karen M. Pasquale, senior advisor to White Plains Mayor Thomas M. Roach.
But in an undated post on its website this week, the theater said that any issues involving a possible infestation had been resolved.
“As a follow-up to our previous post, after we began sending out our statement this morning, we received a letter from the City of White Plains late this morning, which indicates that no bedbug, rodent or any other infestation was found at City Center 15: Cinema de Lux,” the post read. “This concurs with the report of our own private company inspection which found nothing.”
Pasquale said the city’s building department issued a notice of violation of the New York State Property Maintenance Code to the theater on Wednesday, giving it 30 days to address the issue. She added the theater has a regular pest management program already in place.
“The Building Department has spoken with the operator, who has a regular pest management program in place, and has been advised that they are taking the additional, necessary measures to address the conditions for which they have been cited,” Pasquale said.
Officials from both the 15-screen theater and National Amusements, Inc., the theater’s Norwood, Massachusetts-based owner and operator, could not be reached for further comment Friday morning. Within the theater is Chatters Bar & Grill, a full service American restaurant; a food court featuring Famous Famiglia pizza, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream; and a main concession stand with typical movie food and drink offerings.
National Amusements also operates the All Westchester Saw Mill Multiplex Cinemas in Hawthorne, which is scheduled to close on Monday to make way for a planned Audi dealership.
Other retailers at the City Center in White Plains include Atlanta Bread, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Buffalo Wild Wings, Capital One, Cold Stone Creamery, New York Sports Club, Nordstrom Rack, Shop Rite Grocers Supermarket, Toys “R” Us, Target, Temptation Asian Fusion and the White Plains Performing Arts Center. It was not clear Friday if any other retailers were affected by a possible infestation.
The White Plains Performing Arts Center said this week in a post on its website it had brought in a pest management company to complete an inspection “out of an abundance of caution,” which found no issues on its site.
“We have been assured, without a doubt, that there is absolutely no evidence of any type of pest on our premises,” the post read. “The WPPAC has never received a violation of any kind.”
