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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » New York » Patchogue » Sunwave Theater

Sunwave Theater

Patchogue, NY
404 Sunrise Highway
, Patchogue, NY 11772 United States
(map)
Status: Closed
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Unknown
Function: Retail
Seats: Unknown
Chain: Unknown
Architect: Unknown
Firm: Unknown
Add a photo for this theater!
The Sunwave theater opened when the shopping center was built at the southwest corner of Sunrise Highway and Waverly Avenue probably either the late 60's or early 70's. It was in the middle of the shopping center, and you can still see the high roofline of the theater over the roofs of all the other stores.

Currently, Howard's Cafe and La Strata Italian Restaurant occupy the space formerly held by the movie theater in the Staples-Walbaum's Sunwave Plaza Shopping Center.

The theater closed in the mid-80's, along with most of the other twin and single screen theaters in the Patchogue area, obviously a victim of the rash of multiplexes that were built in the area in the mid-80's such as the UA Movies at Patchogue right next door on the former Patchogue Drive-In property, and the Brookhaven Multiplex in Medford.

Ironically, it has come full circle, because now new megaplexes are putting the 1980's multiplexes in the area out of business, the same multiplexes that put the little theaters out of business in the 80's are now falling victim. The Coram and Brookhaven Multiplexes already have closed within the last year, and the Patchogue 13 doesn't seem too far behind.
Contributed by Chris

YOUR COMMENTS

 
In addition, the third store that occupies the old theater is a liqour store. It's three for three. Three stores occupying the space of the Sunwave theater, and all three are alcohol serving establishments - I guess a happy place indeed.
The whole front of the former theater has neon beer signs, in all the windows.
posted by Bway on Aug 9, 2004 at 7:13am
for some extra comments about THIS theater be sure to check out patchogue 13, where me and bway throw down! haha
just kidding. he's got a great memory though. i know, because i have a great memory! (apologies to butch cassidy)
posted by vinceiuliano on Aug 22, 2004 at 3:18pm
Here's a photo of the old Sunwave Theater taken today:

Click here for link to photo

posted by Bway on Oct 14, 2004 at 6:49pm
Was this theater always one screen or was it twined near the end?
posted by Bway on Oct 15, 2004 at 5:02am
I am not sure. If I am not mistaken, it was your typical shopping center theater of the period.
For much more info on this theater, read the "Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts" section where this one came up too.
posted by Bklyn Cinemas on Oct 15, 2004 at 9:32am
Actually R143, it's the UA Movies at Patchogue 13 that you probably saw us talking about this one.
posted by Bway on Oct 15, 2004 at 12:39pm
The Sunwave must have become a twin at some point. I remember seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark and a 9 to 5/Cannonball Run double feature there on the same day.

The last movie I saw there was Gremlins.

And correct me if I'm wrong. . .

wasn't Play World in this shopping center? When did that place go out of business?
posted by Allie Fox on Jan 6, 2005 at 2:09pm
Hmm, I don't know if it was twinned, but it sure was possible.
Yes, Play World used to be in this shopping center. It was where Staples is now. It closed some time around 1995 or so.
posted by Bway on Jan 7, 2005 at 6:31am
i do think this was a twin
posted by longislandmovies on Jan 7, 2005 at 7:00am
I was only in the building once when it was a theater (can't even count the times now that it's a bar!), so I really can't remember, and was a kid at the time.
Maybe it should be changed to "twin" in the description above.
posted by Bway on Jan 7, 2005 at 10:44am
I'm positive that it was a twin when I lived in Patchogue. This is the theater I think of when I smell air popped corn.
posted by Allie Fox on Jan 7, 2005 at 12:46pm
I'm pretty sure this theater was always a twin. I remember when my boss told me they needed a cashier to fill in. I worked at the Rialto. I was sent to the Sunwave and hated it because I couldn't believe that they had to coordinate tickets for TWO different theaters! I was so relieved to get back to the Rialto!!!
posted by Violet on Jul 20, 2005 at 7:09pm
I t was always a twin, great place to see a good flick with pizza to order after.
posted by JimMann9 on Jan 15, 2006 at 2:18am
There was a Chinese restaraunt, a Carvel and possibly a pizza place in this shopping center anchored by Waldbaums and Play World.

Does anyone remember the names of these places? (other than Carvel!!!)
posted by Allie Fox on Jan 23, 2006 at 4:15am
The Chinese Restaurant is still there, currently is called "Ming's House". Staples is in the old Play World store. Duane Reade is in the old Rockbottom's store, which took over the original location of Howard's Cafe and Bar, and the store next to that to make one big store. Howard's Bar moved over to the Sunwave Theater location. There is also a dry cleaner in the shopping center. This past year or two, Waldbaums took over the stored near to it, including the original location of La Strada Italian Restaurant (the pizza place you mention?). La Strada then moved next to Howards Cafe, into the old SunWave Theater location.
posted by Bway on Jan 23, 2006 at 5:37am
The first store to occupy the former theater was a carpet store I believe, before Howard's Bar, La Strata Italian Restaurant, etc moved in. The carpet store was an ideal use I guess because of teh higher ceilings of the theater.
posted by Bway on Jun 5, 2006 at 5:24pm
The Waldbuams used to be a "Hills" back in the early 80's and threw the 70's.
posted by Jared11 on May 7, 2007 at 5:39pm
Was always a twin. One side was decorated in blue, the other was red. They were the same size. Very much like the twin in Farmingville... College Twin??
posted by Movieguy718 on Apr 24, 2008 at 1:55am
Thanks for your description of the old SunWave. I only vaguely remember it.
posted by Bway on Apr 19, 2009 at 9:50am
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