Crown Heights History: The Empress Theatre To Empire Kosher

This series on Crown Heights History has been compiled by Instagram account @crownheightshistory, a born and raised Crown Heightser, and shows some of the ongoing research taking place.

The Empress Theatre
Built: 1927
Builder: Charles A. Sandblom
Seated: 1,595

​​The Empress Theatre opened in 1927 and seated 1600 people. It was built by an architect Charles A. Sandblom who built theaters all over New York CIty.

In 1928 the theater was used for the political gatherings. In 1931 the Jewish Center held a fundraisers for future state of Israel. In 1932 Talmud Torah of Crown Heights held a fundraiser to help the needy with food for Pesach. I read from an old timer that in the 1930s it was owned by a Mr. Isaac Levine who perhaps facilitated these fundraisers.

In 1941 The Empress closed and was reopened as the Crown Theatre. In 1950 the theater closed for good. I read online that the building was used as a dance hall, a furniture showroom, a banquet hall and a night club.

Of course this was followed by the nostalgic Associated Supermarket, Bravo Supermarket for a minute, and back to Associated Inc then finally in 2007 Empire Kosher was opened with epic manager Chaim and they still sell 2 for 1 sushi after 9:45 P.M.

What does that mean play “Trump” every night?

I once spoke to a 100 year old man and he told me there were many theaters around Crown Heights. Need to find out which one was the main central theater and which was for the ultra wealthy who paid 15 cents for a movie.

Gatherings and community centers those days were done in Clubs such as the unity Club on Bedford and Dean, in many of the synagogues and other houses of worship, and in basements as well. Smaller groups would rent a basment for $18 a month have their group of friends gather there.

Eastern parkway had at least two theaters, Lincoln and Nostrand, Utica and Montgomery and I’m sure there are others. There are websites dedicated to documenting all the old theaters around Brooklyn and New York City. afterthefinalcurtain.net and cinematreasures.org has a lot of pictures and information about the Empress Theater.