Curtains could close on Brunswick cinema plans with site for sale

Cinema mogul Eddit Tamir already owns several theatres in Melbourne and was looking to build his next one in Brunswick. But the lure of an old cinema in Sydney has put those plans on pause.

Eddie Tamir and son Benji announced the plans for a cinema in Brunswick in 2017. Picture: Hamish Blair

A cinema owner might have swapped Brunswick for Sydney after putting the site of a potential theatre complex on the market.

Moreland Council in February approved a 1123-seat, 10-screen complex — including a rooftop screen and cafe — to be built at 1-5 Weston St and named Sparkly Bear Cinemas, without any additional carparking spaces.

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But real estate group CBRE has listed the site, along with a cafe next door, for sale, and among its selling points is the council’s decision.

The site being put up for sale comes just weeks after owner Eddie Tamir announced he had bought cinema complex Randwick Ritz in Sydney.

The Ritz Cinema in Randwick, Sydney.

“We’re suckers for old cinema buildings and unfortunately there aren’t many left in Australia,” Mr Tamir said of that purchase.

Mr Tamir’s track record in developing cinemas in Hawthorn, Elsternwick and Belgrave was a factor in the council’s decision to approve the cinema at its February planning meeting.

The cinema was first touted in 2017.

The council’s acting city futures director Phillip Priest said once a VCAT review was completed, should a permit be granted, a new owner would be under no obligation to build a cinema.

1-5 Weston St, Brunswick. Picture: Google Maps Street view

Barkly Square sits across the road from the site and its owner, ISPT Super Property, launched the VCAT appeal amid concerns its own carpark would be overwhelmed by cinema patrons.

CBRE director Julian White said the combined 2516sqm of property would be suited to various retailers.

“The property will attract interest from owner-occupiers, including breweries, food manufacturers and industrial groups, given the existing improvements to the site’s strategic, quasi-retail location,” he said.

Mr Tamir did not answer phone calls from the Leader.