Once-popular western suburbs cinema to reopen, eight months after closing

Western suburbs movie lovers are in for a treat with a once-popular cinema announcing it will reopen with a new owner, eight months after shutting its doors.

The cinema at the Arndale shopping centre is reopening, eight months after shutting its doors.

After more than two decades of movie screenings, Event Cinemas announced in August last year it would not continue its lease on the Greater Union cinema at Arndale.

At the time, Event Cinemas said it was a “difficult decision”.

“We’ve been showing movies at Greater Union Arndale for more than two decades so this decision was not made lightly,” the company said in a statement.

Event Cinemas said a major reason for the closure was to keep reinvesting in its other venues.

Social media was awash with comments from western suburbs residents following the announcement, lamenting the loss of a once-popular attraction.

Arndale’s Greater Union cinema shut down during the COVID-19.

The cinema industry went through a massive challenge through the pandemic, with shutdowns, followed by limited crowd numbers and difficulties accessing new movies to screen.

But this week Armada Arndale released a statement announcing the new opening.

“We’ve got some exciting news to share... Hoyts Australia will be opening at Armada Arndale in June 2021,” the statement read.

HOYTS Group chief executive Damian Keogh said plans for a renovation were in motion, with the company reinvigorating the cinema with new carpet throughout, updated interiors and freshly upholstered seats plus a brand-new front of house and candy bar ahead of its reopening in June.

Mr Keogh said these upgrades would be made in time for the highly anticipated release of Fast & Furious 9 on June 17.

The closed cinema at Arndale is set to reopen as a HOYTS in June. Pic: Supplied

“We are incredibly excited to expand our cinema footprint once again,” he said.

“While we have seen plenty of challenges within the cinema industry in the last year due to the pandemic, we have also seen strong admissions into 2021 as the big movies have started to release.

“Saving the cinema in Arndale from permanent closure showcases our confidence in the ongoing recovery and prospects for the cinema industry, and our long-term commitment to the movie-going experience in South Australia, and Australia as a whole’.

Mr Keogh said July movie releases at Arndale would include In the Heights, Black Widow and Space Jam: A New Legacy, to name a few.

“Other titles to look forward to from August onward include Suicide Squad, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Boss Baby: Family Business, Hotel Transylvania 4, Venom: Let There be Carnage, the next James Bond movie No Time to Die, plus more,” he said.

HOYTS Arndale will bring HOYTS’ total cinemas in Adelaide to four, alongside Tea Tree Plaza, Norwood and Salisbury. It will be the company’s 53rd cinema across Australia and New Zealand.

Arndale was without a produce shop for many months until Produce Exchange opened. Pic: PAULA THOMPSON

The move follows a range of changes at Arndale in recent months.

The centre was without a fruit and vegetable store for more than six months after the closure of Banana Bowl, which operated from Arndale for decades, but the Produce Exchange opened up to replace it.

Other new stores to open in the past six months include a new bubble tea store called Gong Cha and the Hot Star fried chicken shop.

But there have also been closures with jeweller Michael Hill shutting its doors recently and popular cafe Java Lifestyle & Tea set to close its doors on Sunday.