Ogensburg Cinemas owner sets changes to boost business

OGDENSBURG — By bringing in new management and possibly a new marquee, the owner of Ogdensburg Cinemas is hoping to turn the struggling Ford Street theater around.

"We've made some changes," said Deborah A. Polniak, who took over as manager at the theater about a month ago. "There's just not enough traffic to support it seven days a week. So I closed it Mondays and Tuesdays and added more matinees to the weekend, which gives people an opportunity to see the movies with their family."

In addition to management and schedule changes, Plattsburgh businessman Gilbert J. Jones, who owns the Ogdensburg Mall, has stepped up efforts to revive the theater.

Mr. Jones is looking to replace the seating at the two theaters and the outside lighting. He also has met with city officials about replacing the marquee as part of the city's ongoing project to revitalize downtown.

"The main thing is we need a new marquee out front and some lighting, because we are getting some good movies," Mr. Jones said. "The weekends have been pretty good."

According to Mr. Jones, the theater has continued to lose customers and money since reopening five years ago.

Businesswoman Connie A. Augsbury, who had managed the theater since it reopened, left recently after becoming frustrated that the business continued to lose money, Mr. Jones said. With Mrs. Polniak, who is a real estate agent and a former manager at the Main Street kosher cheese plant, taking over, Mr. Jones said, he is hopeful things will pick up.

"She's only been in there less than a month," Mr. Jones said. "We can't do everything overnight, but we're going to plug away at it and make it work."