6. The Center Theater, Sunset Park
The legacy of the Center Theater in Sunset Park is now overshadowed by the legacy of Widdi’s Hall, the catering hall that now occupies the former theater space. It is so beloved by the Brooklyn community that 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues has been named Subhi Widdi Way in honor of the hall’s founder. Widdi immigrated to the United States from Palestine in 1960 and bought the failing theater in 1985.
The hall has changed appearance on the outside over the years and at one point was painted white and red with an awning replacing the marquee of the former theater. Today, it appears in a beige tone with stonework on the pilasters as seen in the photograph above. The Center Theater was originally called the Palace Theater when it opened in 1914. It was renamed in the 1930s.
