Plaza Theatre demolition set for Aug. 30

The Plaza Theatre, a long-standing vacant building in East Patchogue that community groups have rallied to tear down, will be demolished on Aug. 30.

The theater, which opened in 1962, has sat vacant on East Main Street for more than a quarter century. Suffolk County began trying to take over the property in 2006 and three years later handed the process over to the town, which condemned it.

Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County officials will hold a ceremony outside the theater on the day of demolition, starting at 10 a.m., Supervisor Mark Lesko and Councilman Tim Mazzei said in a joint statement.

“It’s finally happening and I am ecstatic over it. I am looking forward to moving on to improving and getting rid of the blight on the East Patchogue corridor,” Marita Morello, president of civic group Focus East Patchogue, said in a statement.

Brookhaven hopes to redevelop the property, the statement said.