By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
NORTHFIELD — Tilton Square Theatre reopened June 5 in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order, but the rebellion was short-lived as it was crushed beneath a pile of penalties a week later.
The theater had been closed since March following the governor’s executive order prohibiting some businesses from operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the owners decided to open anyway, saying they were better prepared to deal with restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the virus than the large chain stores that never were forced to close.
“It is with great disappointment and frustration that we announce the forced closure of the Tilton Theater in Northfield. We received an onslaught of citations and threats of legal action against us, despite providing a higher standard to keep our customers and our employees safe compared to other businesses that are permitted to operate. Under the circumstances, we regret that we are left with no choice but to cease operations until the governor allows us to reopen,” the owners posted on their Facebook page.
The theater’s first showing was at 4 p.m. Friday, June 5, and while a Northfield police officer stopped by to inform the theater owners they were in violation, no penalties were levied.
“Police came by, the mayor came by, we were open and showed movies all week,” Northfield resident Brett Denafo said June 9. He and Clint Bunting are co-owners of Town Square Entertainment, which also operates Harbor Square Theatre in Stone Harbor and plans to open Ventnor Square Theatre in the fall. “The city has been supportive of us.”
The owners announced they were closing again at about 5 p.m. Thursday, June 11.
“We believe we have been unfairly targeted and denied the right to engage in lawful business activity while other businesses are able to operate legally. This is a great loss to the community during these trying times and we encourage our customers and supporters to contact their local politicians to ask that our theater be permitted to open safely.
“We remain a strong partner with the city and community of Northfield and we will continue to assert our right to provide safe family entertainment here,” the statement continued.
Earlier in the week, Denafo said about 180 people saw movies the first day and the theater averaged about the same number all week.
“People are coming out to support us,” Denafo said, adding that Tilton Square was beating the average of theaters that are open across the country.
Denafo said 90 percent to 95 percent of people commenting on social media are supportive.
Comments on the Facebook page Northfield NJ Lounge support his assertion.
A comment posted by a member asked people’s thought on the theater reopening.
Following are some of the comments:
“If you read their post following CDC guides for large venues they are taking every precaution and following the guidelines.”
“I support all businesses reopening and feel they never should have been closed in the first place. People have a right to make a living. Not to mention, we all know the numbers were wrong.”
“I’m all for it. My opinion … it’s time to open up the state. After 3 months, we have flattened the curve and hospitals are prepared. Those were 2 reasons we closed everything in March. After all this time, I believe people have the right to choose if they want to participate in society again, and those that want to stay home and take precautions have the same right.”
“I think all businesses should be open and people should exercise their own discretion as to whether or not they go to the movies, gyms, stores, or restaurants.”
“Awesome. It’s about time NJ small businesses stand up and fight back against tyrannical and overreaching government policy.”
“If they sanitize well between showings and maintain lowered operating capacities it seems like a fairly low risk option for beating the heat! They have a unique advantage of being able to promote social distancing within the theaters themselves with the sale of individual seats.”
“100 percent support them! Murphy is killing our state. We never should have closed liked we did. Keep the high risk people at home and pay them. The rest of us could have continued to work and kept our state moving.”
Denafo said the theater was following and exceeding CDC guidelines for sanitizing and social distancing, both in the theaters and common areas. Seating was about 30 percent of capacity.
He said the theater had assigned seating and a software program that created 6 feet around each seat or group of seats to maintain social distancing.
“We can actually police our place better than a Home Depot or Walmart. We know what seats you’re sitting in, because it’s assigned seating, so when the people leave, we sanitize the seats, we wipe them down. Instead of having 20 minutes between movies we now have 45 minutes between movies,” Denafo said, comparing that with the large retail stores. “We know exactly where every customers is going. At Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, everyone is walking around. The area is going to be wiped down after every customer.”
Bunting told a local news outlet that it’s time to get back to business.
“We think we need to be open, we think we deserve to be open,” Bunting said. “We think we can follow the CDC guidelines as good as Home Depot or better, and if they can open, if Walmart can be open, we believe that we should be open.”