Croydon Cinemas: Hewish Rd four cinema complex up for sale

Brace yourself movie buffs — a cinema complex owned by the same family for more than 40 years in Croydon is up for grabs.

One of the four screens inside the Croydon Cinemas complex, which is up for sale. Picture: Supplied.

It’s a movie buff’s dream — the opportunity to own your own cinema complex.

But the future for Croydon Cinemas could also be very different, with opportunities for its new owner to create a totally different development, or go ahead with expansion plans.

The Hewish Rd complex, which has been owned by the Gershov family since it opened as a twin-cinema in 1977, is being sold by agent Aston Commercial.

It is one of the last remaining independent cinemas in the outer east, alongside the likes of Metro Cinemas in Boronia and Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave.

It boasts four screens, a liquor licence, and room for more than 800 customers.

Croydon Cinemas, owned by the Gershov Family since it opened in 1977, is up for sale on Hewish Rd, Croydon. Picture: Supplied.

The complex is being sold after founder and site owner Bennie Gershov died three years ago. His widow Ruth said it was time for someone else to breathe new life into her late husband’s labour of love.

“I’m not a spring chicken, and it’s time for a new person or entity to come in and take over a very interesting and satisfying job,” she said.

Ms Gershov said Maroondah Council had approved expansion plans for the complex, which included adding extra levels onto the complex for two new cinemas and an open-air movie space on the rooftop.

She said the family had also bought a nearby store in the cinemas’ arcade, previously used by a law firm, to expand its foyer.

The staircase entrance to Croydon Cinemas’ foyer. File picture.

Ms Gershov said she hoped the site would remain a cinema complex, and the family would transfer the permit for the expansion plans to the new owner if they were interested.

Aston Commercial director Rodney King said he had received more than 30 inquiries about the complex since it was listed on September 30.

“The industry has been reinvigorated and people are going back to cinemas post-Covid,” Mr King said.

“We’ve had so many inquiries in the last two or three days … the interest has certainly been from cinema operators all across the country, who are keen to keep it going as a cinema, and maybe renovate or upgrade it.

Mr King and Ms Gershov did not provide a desired sale price for the complex, with Mr King saying he wanted to hear from interested buyers about its value.

Expressions of interest for the complex close on October 28 at 3pm.

The council has been contacted for comment.