Dunkirk Multiplex owner Nathan Rogers, of Forestville, spoke of his intention to apply for a liquor license for the movie theater at a recent Dunkirk Town Board meeting.

“What I’m looking to do is get a beer and wine license,” Rogers said. “The reason for it is because I’m looking to turn it into a multiplex.”

Beer and wine licenses were legalized for movie theaters statewide in January of 2022. Rogers’ appearance at the Town Board meeting served as his 30-day notice to the municipality required for a liquor license to be reviewed.

“Pretty much everyone has made this change to offering beer and wine or wine slushes,” Rogers said. “It’s an industry standard now. It’s been, in most of the rest of the country, a standard. New York state just got onboard last year.”

OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Nathan Rogers, of Forestville, is the owner of the Dunkirk Multiplex. He notified the Dunkirk Town Board of his application for a liquor license at a recent meeting.

The Dunkirk Multiplex, located on Bennett Road near the Thruway exit in Dunkirk, is one of two traditional movie theaters in Chautauqua County, along with Dipson Theatre in Lakewood.

Rogers has nearly two decades of experience in the theater industry, with more than half of his experience coming from the Dunkirk location. The son of Aimee Rogers of Imagine Forestville, Nathan Rogers is the first local owner of the movie theater, which he purchased last year.

In addition to a better experience for guests, Rogers hopes the liquor sales could benefit performers on the theater’s newly renovated stage.

“We’ve had stand-up comedians lined up that want to do stuff, and their job is a little easier if somebody has had a little beer,” Rogers joked. “We’ve had bands that would like to have somewhere to play, possibly in the winter when there is no other option available.”

Rogers hopes liquor sales will help keep the business in Dunkirk long-term, even with the recent challenges the industry has faced.

“Being able to offer more to the community, being able to hold the theater in the area … it’s a struggling business as is with all the streaming services, but they are running into their own hiccups and hard times, so it is starting to come back to the movie industry,” Rogers said.