The Bronxville movie theater at 84 Kraft Ave. is being marketed for sale and the current operator, The Picture House Regional Film Center, hopes to be able to buy it. The Film Center, which is the nonprofit that has been operating the Pelham Picture House at 175 Wolfs Lane in Pelham, expanded to also operate the three-screen Bronxville theater after owner and operator Bow Tie Cinemas was forced to close the theater as a result of the Covid pandemic.
The Bronxville Theater opened in September of 1926, and at that time had a single screen and a seating capacity of more than 1,100. It was remodeled in 1960. In 1980, former owner United Artists Theaters divided it into three auditoriums. The Picture House Regional Film Center reopened the theater in 2022 with a 10-year lease from Bow Tie.
The Picture House Regional Film Center describes itself as “a community-based, mission-driven, non-profit alternative to commercial movie theaters, presenting the best in independent, international, documentary, and classic cinema. In two locations, The Picture House Bronxville and The Picture House Pelham offers theatrical runs of popular, independent, art house, and classic films, in addition to curated series, retrospectives, and sneak previews. Our special events, some featuring visits from well-known industry professionals — actors, producers, writers, directors, and designers — provide an insider’s view of the magic of the movies.”
Clayton Bushong, executive director of the Film Center, told Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal, “We were very excited that the building came on the market. It’s turns 100 years old in 2026. The Pelham Picture House is 105 years old. We love Bronxville and Bronxville has welcomed us with open arms, everyone from the mayor who is a huge supporter to board members who have joined. It’s a great place for us to show our films and teach classes.”
Bushong said that the downturn in the commercial movie theater exhibition business caused by the rise in video streaming of movies poses a financial problem for theater operators. He noted that the film companies sometimes take up to 70% of the box office admissions as their film rental charges.
“We have to make sure we can deliver a ‘world-class experience’ and keep the community alive but also have a responsibility to do it financially responsibly,” Bushong said. “Most of these historic theaters were not built in the way movie theaters are built now. About 50% of our operating budget is raised through grants, such as state grants through people like State Sen. Shelley Mayer and Assembymember Amy Paulin, and county support through County Executive Ken Jenkins. We apply for a lot of grants with ArtsWestchester.”
Bushong said that in programming the theater they look for feedback from the community. He described first grade school children in the Bronxville schools having made a movie with instructors at the Film Center and then coming in with their parents for a screening event, complete with popcorn.
“I think it means a lot to the community that we stay there,” Bushong said. “Every restaurant down the block tells us that when we have a popular movie the restaurant does better.”
Bushong said that they’re planning a retrospective of movies by the late director and actor Rob Reiner in January and will be doing in-depth Black History Month programming in February.
“We have Senior Tuesdays where every Tuesday at 2:30 in Bronxville and Pelham seniors can come and watch whatever movie we’re showing for free. We sometimes see hundreds of seniors on Tuesdays.”
Bushong said that the property owner is offering the various businesses in the building their own properties in a condominium-style arrangement.
“They’re selling each of the businesses their own properties and ours is the largest so it’s the highest value. I hope we can come to an arrangement. Right now we’re a little further away than we want to be. We’re talking to the landlord and hope to work something out.”
