Beach Theatre Group Pitches Hotel Concept

CAPE MAY — While the Beach Theatre Foundation’s 18-month lease ended March 31 on the building, the foundation is continuing to search for a developer to save the city’s last movie theater.
Frank Investments will reopen the theater beginning May 22 for the summer season.
Frank Investments holds a demolition permit for the theater portion of the complex and received preliminary site plan approval from Cape May’s Planning Board to build six, three-bedroom condominiums above nine existing retail stores fronting on Beach Avenue.
Beach Theatre Foundation President Steve Jackson told the Herald Tuesday that the group has not given up on trying to save the theater and is focusing on development plans.
“A couple of developers have different ideas which way they’d like to take it,” he said.
Jackson said the foundation’s board has authorized hiring a consulting firm in the hospitality field to take a look at a market study to see if a “boutique hotel” is one option.
He said the foundation was looking for a design that stays with in the confines and restrictions of the building.
Jackson said the boutique hotel concept “could provide an economic engine for that area of Cape May.” He said some experts have told the foundation the market has room in the future for that type of accommodations.
“We want to make sure we are right about that, so we have engaged a firm to help do a market study on the area, said Jackson. “We think that is a better idea than condos.”
Jackson said he did not think the theater’s location was good for high priced condos.
“If you look to the left and right of us, what are there? Hotels and motels,” he said.
He said it would be a very small hotel but of an different flavor than the city’s other hotels.
Jackson said the foundation did not yet know the final design of the theater auditorium but he speculated more than one theater in the hotel building that could be used for business gatherings and musical and arts presentations although it’s primary purpose would be to show movies.
Jackson said the foundation opted not to renew its lease of the theater from Frank Investments because it was losing too much money “even though we sold more tickets in 2008 than they sold.” He said the foundation bore the cost of installing new gas pipes for heating and other repairs to the building.
The foundation is making monthly payments for $100,000 it borrowed from the City of Cape May.
Jackson said he did not know how long the foundation had to come up with a development deal before Frank Investments proceeds with its condominium plans. He said he expected the foundation would present the market study and “some preliminary architectural visionary plans” at a June fundraising event.