(photo by Gavin Thomas / NY Mag)
Yesterday, we told you about some new additions to Williamsburg, like a shiny Chase Bank and a Sephora, joining the ranks of a nearby Apple Store and Whole Foods. As much as the neighborhood seemed to be turning into a replica of chain-laden Manhattan, some offbeat gems were still surviving, like Quimby’s, Desert Island Comics, the volunteer-run Spectacle Theater, and independent video store/bar/screening room Videology Bar & Cinema, which has catered to culture nerds and film buffs for close to 15 years. However, Videology just announced it will be closing their doors later this month, on October 27, making the streets of Bedford Avenue just a little more sterile.
The message came on social media, as it often does, as the space tweeted and posted on Facebook that “after almost 15 amazing years, Videology will be closing its doors for the last time on October 27th. Bringing movies to Williamsburg, to Brooklyn, and to New York City, first as a DVD rental store, and then as a bar and theater, has been a tremendous honor. Thank you so much to all of our loyal and passionate customers. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
This isn’t the first time the cinematic space has had troubles; in July 2017, The Real Deal reported they were suing their landlord, 308 Grand Realty LLC, due to what they claimed were “numerous ‘petty allegations’ against them in an attempt to justify terminating their lease.”
Their website indicates an event already planned for the 27th: several screenings of Suspiria served with “a glass of Pinot Noir from the Black Forest” followed by a Suspiria Halloween costume party. The site’s event calendar still has entries stretching well into 2019; it’s unclear if these screen-based romps, like Halloween movie trivia, The Simpsons bingo, and a Mars Attacks! drinking game, will now be finding new homes.
We’ve reached out to the venue to find out more information about the closing and will update this post if we hear back.