The Surflight Theater in Beach Haven recently marked its grand reopening. — Courtesy: Melanie Hunter
By Joshua Burd
A real estate investor has reopened a well-known theater on Long Beach Island, bringing new life to a property that had sat vacant for two years.
Representatives for the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven said the facility reopened on June 23 after being bought by Al Parinello, an entertainment industry veteran. The theater had been owned by TD Bank after a bankruptcy filing in 2015, but Parinello paid $2 million to acquire it in March and has so far invested $125,000 in renovations.
The investor has also secured a $1.3 million dollar loan from Ocean First Bank, according to a news release. He now plans on infusing another $500,000 in renovations over the next five years.
The theater resumed operations late last month with a production of Footloose.
“Indeed, our Surflight Theatre harkens back to a time when life was simple and summer family fun was in abundance,” Parinello told Barnegat Patch. “That’s what has made the dramatic closure and now return of this theatre so special and very emotional for many — it is part of so many families’ history and memories.
“The Surflight Theatre is synonymous with warm, wonderful experiences associated with summer, community, pride, family and fun.”
