Syndicated has been making quite the splash in the neighborhood since it opened last month. This movie theater-restaurant hybrid is the creation of managing partner Tim Chung, a self-proclaimed cinephile who had a career in the film production industry prior to opening this establishment; when he teamed up with Chef Bret Macris, a native Angeleno who formerly ran the kitchen at Rose Water in Park Slope, Syndicated was born.
The space itself is easy to miss from the outside. Located on the corner of Bogart St and Thames st adjacent to Pine Box Rock Shop and across from Roberta’s, its door is discreetly labeled “Syndicated”. However, the door opens into a vast, beautifully renovated warehouse with tall ceilings and high windows. The front bar and restaurant space is centered around an elegant marble bar surrounded by booths and tables with an open kitchen in the back. The front area seats 100.
The movie theater, which seats more than 50, is located in the back at the end of a hallway which features an old timey concession stand, though the whole space has the feel of a classic movie palace. “We were going for a seventies art deco vintage art house feel”, describes Becky Brooks-Macris, Syndicated’s manager and Chef Bret’s wife. It definitely achieves that, plus an added “creepiness factor”: Other patrons have compared it to the Overlook Hotel from The Shining. The space was once used as a morgue, way, way back in the day (very spooky!).
Chung chooses all the movies about a month in advance and organizes them by theme. Last month was the incredibly specific “science fiction aliens who invade earth and take the form of humans.” This month is, appropriately, focused on “unconventional love stories”.
There are two or three movie screenings an evening, depending on the length of the films. Weekends often sell out days in advance, so if you want to ensure that you get seats, get your tickets early. Unfortunately, Syndicated’s ticketing system is not yet available online, so planning ahead is a little tricky; With the exception of their upcoming Oscar Shorts, if you want to reserve tickets in advance, you have to stop by to do it in person.
The theater menu includes food that’s easy to eat in the dark (i.e. food that doesn’t require flatware). Guests have the option of reordering in the middle of the film, but on a busy night doing so would require the server to shuffle past a bunch of other guests, unless you happen to be seated in an aisle seat, which can be a bit of a deterrent (no one likes to rouse the ire of a fellow moviegoer!).
The dinner menu is extensive but rather hit-or-miss, but the cocktails are where the menu’s strength lies. Each cocktail is either named after a film or a film reference, such as the “Redrum” (hi, further connections to The Shining). Drinks are on the more expensive side, mostly in the $12-13 range, but they’re very well crafted, and the bar staff is knowledgeable and professional. You can bring your bar cocktail into the theater and happily sip it for the throughout the film. One of the bartenders explained that on any given night it’s a huge mix of patrons: some moviegoers, some diners, and some people just looking to have a couple great drinks in a beautiful space that’s a little different than what’s already happening around Bushwick.
Syndicated is located at 40 Bogart St, on the corner of Bogart St and Thames street off of the Morgan Ave stop on the L train. It is open from Sunday through Wednesday from 4pm-12am and from Thursday through Saturday from 4pm-2am; view the screening room’s calendar here. Visit them online at syndicatedbk.com or follow them for updates on Facebook or Instagram.
