A "spiritual successor" to the fabled Fabian theater of old (which sadly won't come back) 3 blocks…read moreaway now an empty shell, Fabian 8 is Paterson's foray into movie theaters, and in a special case, an independent movie theater away from the large corporations/chains we're all accustomed to, and a short drive away in neighboring towns. With 8 screens (hence the name), affordable pricing, and other musings, it's worth a visit, whether you're a native Patersonian or someone out of the area. It's located inside the Center City Mall, at the upper floor, across the hall from Planet 301, and close by to Center City Pizza. Outdoors, it captivates the decor and charms of an old theater (a style mimicking an old theater, and red neon display boards showing what movies are available), and plenty of movie promo billboards plastered across the mall. Inside, it's a charming little theater with most of the amenities you'd expect: ticket office near the entrance, a concession stand with most of the things popular in other theaters, small dining area, a video game room (I've never been, but it's good for private parties), and a good environment for children and families. After checking in with whatever movie you'd want to watch, you're then directed to the respective screen: 7 regular/conventional, one I believe is 3D. Seats inside are posh, somewhat comfy and reclining to good angles, but unlike the bigger chains, they're "not fluffy enough", and non-motorized recline to lounge. They also vouch your parking fees (up to four hours), with the purchase of a ticket, so keep that when you've parked underground.
Overall, pricing is mostly affordable and at a good convenience for locals. There's two distinct pricing methods: standard/regular admission, and matinee showings (open-4PM), a special Tuesday pricing of 7$ for all tickets, and student discounts (assuming school is in session). As for concessions, unlike larger companies, Fabian 8 doesn't do combo meals or specials (ie food/popcorn + a drink for a lesser cost, but prices are not a deal breaker. Popcorn is plentiful, most familiar candy brands, and sodas/drinks are provided by PepsiCo (Pepsi/Mist Twist/Mountain Dew/etc), and food ranges from pizzas, to churros, to hamburgers (provided by White Castle) and pretzel bites. For children, there's a special value pack for them in the form of a popcorn bundle with a small drink in a collectible cup if available (or regular drink) with whatever movie is on special and gummy fruit snacks. There's also a butter dispenser nearby too. I've never been to their game room, but it seems to be a good distraction for those who want to have fun, with rentals and timed sessions to play consoles. There's also a loyalty program for those interested, to save money and get rewards.
Personally I've been going in/out of Fabian 8 for nearly 6 years (from hanging out with friends, to doing class trips here when I went to high school, to solo shows), and it's been mixed at best, but not "exceptionally" done. Sure, when I was in Paterson it was a big convenience, but being exposed to better options elsewhere, it's hard to show interest. I thought the prices were fair, and it's sometimes a good place to relax when my options were limited. It's a bad thing to see staff sometimes reluctantly showing any enthusiasm to be there, and hanging out with their own friends during work hours, then again, attendance sometimes pales in comparison to captivate their attention. My last time going there was for the Grinch movie (3D version) on opening night, and pricing was fair for me and my guests (3 kids and 3 adults), snacks/concessions were decent but not spectacular (I've yet been impressed with movie food), and inside the theater at most wasn't at full capacity. Seats were fluffy but felt a bit rocky. Understandable I've went to a children's film, so I was unfettered by the noise of children and others in the audience. Left with a good note and some laughs, but I would've hoped things would be "better".
To end this, Fabian 8 is Paterson's independent theater, and maybe the undisputed money maker for Center City Mall, which has been falling under hard times as of lately (a "dead mall"). If you've wanted to have movies w/o corporatism breathing down your neck, and smaller crowds, this might be a good stop. Free parking (w/ your ticket), good pricing, issues with staff, and lacking with charm other larger movie chains can easily dish out, its what's expected coming here.
Maybe next time?