One of Australia’s leading cinema chains has revived the Western Australian movie theatre scene after a beloved independent film chain went into administration last year.
Cinema operator Hoyts has acquired four existing cinemas; one in Bunbury and three in Perth – in the suburbs of Currambine, Warwick and Joondalup.
All were previously owned by Grand Cinemas.
The buyout comes after the iconic WA cinema giant – which started out as a family business nearly 100 years ago – shut its doors in November.
In a post to social media, the company revealed the pandemic had taken a destructive toll on the business following months of lockdowns and border closures.
“Some difficult news for us to share today – Covid 19 and the related closure and capacity limits for cinemas had a substantial impact on the financial health of our business, and we’ve had to get some outside help and have appointed administrators to the business,” the post read.
“It means we will continue trading through some locations in the short term, but the longer term is harder to predict while operating and recapitalisation options are reviewed.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank all our staff past and present and customers for their support. Still WA-owned and focused, the Grand Theatre Company is proud of its history – nearly as long as the movie industry itself – and status as one of Australia’s oldest independent film exhibitors.”
The closure left devoted fans and movie lovers devastated with many taking to social media to express their sorrow over the loss.
“Deeply saddened as I attended sometimes up to three times a week. I love the cinema so much. This is terrible and I am sorry for all the staff impacted. You guys were truly one of the last safe, fun, affordable outing venues in Perth. Again gee wiz,” one loyal customer wrote.
“Come on WA don’t give up on this WA-owned business. Get some friends together and go and watch a movie,” another urged.
It’s hoped the rebranding will “preserve the local community’s access” to the big-screen, which comes just in time for school holidays.
“We see cinema as having a critical role in the local community, forming such a big part of cultural development,” Hoyts’ director of sales, marketing and content Stephanie Mills, said in a statement.
Grand Cinemas started out as a group of “great old theatres in the heart of Perth”, before embracing the drive-in era, which coincided with the expansion throughout the city’s suburbs.
It eventually returned to its city roots with the multi-screen Cinema City near the Perth Town Hall and later established “a chain of hi-tech multi-screen complexes” in the early ’90s, first in Warwick in 1993 followed by Bunbury and then Currambine.
In 2004, the company took over the Joondalup and Whitford City multi-screen theatres from Greater Union and in 2005 it opened its sixth complex in Armadale.
In 2014, it adopted the Gold Lounge trend at Grand Cinemas Warwick, and the following year it opened its “state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos cinema at Grand Cinemas Currambine”, described as “the first of its kind in Western Australia”.
Grand Cinemas customers who hold a current loyalty card will receive a free 12-month membership with Hoyts in line with the rebranding.
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Hoyts operates over 50 cinemas across Australia and New Zealand, with over 400 screens and 50,000 seats. Hoyts is owned by Chinese conglomerate the Wanda Group.
The cinema giant now has nine cinemas across Western Australia, which offer Xtreme Screen, Lux and D-box experiences at selected venues.
– With Alexis Carey
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