The West Newton Cinema Foundation officially purchased the West Newton Cinema on Tuesday.
“This pivotal acquisition prevents the theater’s demolition and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as a nonprofit community-run cinema,” Elizabeth Heilig, president of the West Newton Cinema Foundation Board of Directors, wrote in a statement celebrating the deal.
Mark Development bought the property in 2022, and that company set up a deal with the West Newton Cinema Foundation to let them buy the cinema if they could raise $5.6 million to buy it.
In April, an anonymous donor gave the organization $5.2 million, which included a $2 million match for future donations.
In June, the nonprofit announced that it had raised enough money to buy the cinema from Mark Development.
Now it’s on to the next phase, which involves renovating the cinema to incorporate film festivals, author events and other uses for the building in addition to the mainstream movies the cinema shows.
The plan is similar to that of Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline.
“The theater’s new management team plans to revitalize programming with a diverse lineup of live events and special screenings that will complement the eclectic mix of mainstream, independent and foreign films for which West Newton Cinema is known,” Heilig continued. “The Foundation envisions the Cinema as a cultural anchor for all of Newton that will contribute to the economic vitality of West Newton Square and foster community through the arts.”
West Newton Cinema is an Art Deco-style theater that attracts more than 50,000 visitors every year. To learn more about the West Newton Cinema Foundation and ways you can help, visit wncfoundation.org.