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Key people at Silver Cup.
Silvercup Studios operates as a premier film and television production facility, offering comprehensive studio infrastructure and support services in New York City. The company provides 23 sound stages across three world-class lots, encompassing over 550,000 square feet of total space, including turnkey production offices and extensive equipment rental. Its strategic locations in Long Island City and The Bronx facilitate convenient access to Manhattan and a vast talent pool for content creators.
The studio complex commenced operations in 1983, established by brothers Alan Suna and Stuart Suna, alongside their father Harry Suna. They identified an opportunity in the former Silvercup Bakery building, transforming it into a vital hub for New York's burgeoning entertainment industry. This foundational insight centered on providing a robust and accessible production environment within the city.
Silvercup Studios serves a broad clientele of top-tier content producers across film, television, and commercial sectors. The company’s vision is to remain New York's preeminent destination for these creators, continuously supporting the development and execution of high-quality productions. It aims to foster the creative ecosystem by offering adaptable spaces and comprehensive logistical assistance.
Key people at Silver Cup.
Silvercup Studios is a premier film and television production facility in New York City, operating 23 sound stages across campuses in Long Island City (Queens), Blissville, and the South Bronx.[3][2] It serves major content creators by providing essential infrastructure for high-profile TV series, films, and commercials, solving the challenge of local production space amid surging demand from streaming and traditional media.[2][6] Iconic shows like *The Sopranos*, *Succession*, *30 Rock*, *Sex and the City*, and *Girls* have been filmed there, cementing its role as a cornerstone of NYC's entertainment infrastructure.[2][3] Acquired in 2020 by Hackman Capital Partners and Square Mile Capital for approximately $500 million, it continues under original chairman Alan Suna, with recent refinancing by Apollo Global Management and Deutsche Bank signaling strong financial backing and growth potential.[3][5][2]
Silvercup Studios was founded in 1983 by brothers Stuart and Alan Suna on the site of the former Silvercup Bakery in Long Island City, transforming an industrial landmark into a production hub.[3][7] The Suna brothers, prominent Long Island City businessmen, built it into a 23-stage complex across three NYC campuses, hosting landmark productions that defined modern TV.[2][3] A pivotal moment came in October 2020 when Hackman Capital Partners (led by CEO Michael Hackman) and Square Mile Capital Management (led by CEO Craig Solomon) acquired it for a reported $500 million, retaining the Suna brothers' involvement and the existing team to preserve its legacy.[3][4][5] This sale marked Silvercup's seventh addition to the buyers' media portfolio, which includes assets like The Culver Studios and Television City, expanding its footprint amid NYC's booming film industry.[3][4][6]
Silvercup Studios rides the wave of NYC's exploding content production demand, fueled by streaming giants and tax incentives that have made the region a global hub.[2][6] Timing is ideal post-2020 acquisition, as physical studios prove vital despite virtual production trends—major financiers like Apollo ($600B AUM) signal confidence in brick-and-mortar assets amid digital shifts.[2][5] Market forces favoring it include persistent need for sound stages (even with Netflix slowdowns), post-pandemic recovery, and investor aggregation of studio portfolios totaling 60 stages and 3.6 million sq ft.[4][6] It influences the ecosystem by anchoring local jobs, attracting productions, and enabling operators like Hackman to scale nationally, countering West Coast dominance.[3][4]
Silvercup is poised for expansion with its deep-pocketed owners eyeing more NYC acquisitions like Kaufman Astoria, leveraging refinancing for upgrades amid sustained content hunger.[5][6] Trends like AI-enhanced production and global streaming wars will test it, but its institutional backing and legacy position it to thrive as hybrid physical-digital facilities evolve. Its influence may grow by defining East Coast media infrastructure, much like its role in birthing TV icons—reinforcing NYC as an "all-weather" production powerhouse.[1][2]
