Troubled Trak Cinema back in business

A troubled arthouse cinema in Adelaide’s east is expected to reopen by the end of the month, and its landlord is promising to spend “big money” if community demand is there.

Grimaldi's manager Steve Fahy said clientele had dropped off significantly since the Trak Cinema closed. Picture: Ben Cameron

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The troubled Trak Cinema is expected to reopen by the end of the month.

Landlord Bill Kyros told Eastern Courier Messenger he would spend “big money” on the Greenhill Rd cinema — which has been closed since January — if the community demanded it.

“One thing is certain, the cinema will reopen,” Mr Kyros said.

“If the support of people is here, I would not hesitate to put a lot of money into it.”

Republic Theatres owner Michael Todd, who had operated the arthouse Trak since 2003, recently relinquished his lease.

“Unfortunately the man (Mr Todd) had to stop operating. I’m not privy to why and I can’t say,” Mr Kyros said.

“Something happened. I’m not taking them to court for losses, I don’t kick people when they are down.”

He was excited about rebooting the Trak, which opened in the mid-1970s.

“I wish it was (open) yesterday,” he said.

“We will continue with the cinema and it should be operational within a month.

“We will reopen soon and advertise.”

Stephen Fahy, manager of Grimaldi’s cafe in the Trak complex, said he had noticed a significant downturn in business at the cinema since about June last year.

“It was run down a bit,” Mr Fahy said of the cinema.

“Last year, we had to close the doors (to the cafe) and have somebody manning the front door with people coming out of the cinema.

“Now we are not even getting a full sitting on Saturday nights.

“It needs somebody who knows what they are doing.”

The Trak Cinema opened in the mid-1970s, specialising in arthouse films.

Mr Todd had also run The Regal Theatre — formerly the Chelsea — on Kensington Rd until Burnside Council terminated his lease in early 2018 and took over the operations.

The council said it had no interest in also running the Trak.