Scene One Entertainment to operate Market Arcade 8 in downtown Buffalo

Benchmark Group, Scene One Entertainment enter into lease agreement to keep first-run movies available in downtown Buffalo’s theater district

Press release

Schenectady-based Scene One Entertainment, in collaboration with The Benchmark Group, announced it will reopen the Market Arcade 8 located in downtown Buffalo in April.

Operating the Market Arcade 8 will be Scene One’s first theater operation in Western New York.

The theater features deluxe, heated, reclining seats in each auditorium. Concessions will include Scene One’s signature hot popcorn with real butter, along with Coca-Cola products and time-heralded snacks and candy available. Additionally, the Market Arcade 8 will also have a full bar that will open, pending license approval from the New York State Liquor Authority.

The Market Arcade 8 will screen first-run Hollywood features, in addition to independent, foreign and classic films. Additionally, Scene One is inviting film festivals seeking a venue to host their event to consider the Market Arcade 8 as an option.

“I could not be more excited than to take over this incredible theater right in Buffalo,” said Joe Masher, owner and CEO, Scene One Entertainment. “Scene One has been committed to the moviegoing experience, particularly in downtowns. The Market Arcade 8 fits perfectly in our vision for bringing filmgoers to the movies. This would not be possible without the incredible leadership of Marty and the entire team at the Benchmark Group on working with us to make this opportunity a reality.”

"We were excited to have a national theater chain, AMC, reopen the Market Arcade cinema eight years ago,” said Martin J. DelleBovi, executive vice president and director of real estate, the Benchmark Group. “However, we are more excited to have a hands-on operator like Scene One to turn this into the success that we know it can be."

“I’ve been clear that revitalizing downtown starts with Main Street and the theater district, and this is exactly the kind of progress we want to see,” Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said. “The reopening of the Market Arcade 8 will help bring foot traffic back to Main Street, support nearby businesses, and build the consistent energy we need for a strong and vibrant downtown.”

The Market Arcade 8 first opened in 1987 (as General Cinema Theaters). Over the next 30-plus years, it changed hands twice before undergoing a major refurbishment by AMC in 2018.

Scene One brings extensive experience in commercial, independent and specialty cinema exhibition, with a focus on curated film selections, filmmaker events, repertory programming, and community partnerships. The company looks forward to working closely with local organizations, patrons, and the City of Buffalo as it begins this new venture.

Scene One Entertainment is a multifaceted entertainment company based in Schenectady, operating movie theaters and amusement facilities in Colorado, New York, Virginia, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Scene One operates movie theaters both under the Scene One and Big Time Movies (BTM) brands, in addition to the historic Huck Finn’s Playland amusement park in Albany. For more information, visit scene1ent.com.