SINGAPORE: The Cathay Cineplex, located at the iconic Cathay Building on Handy Road, will cease operations on Jun 26.
This decision is part of "cost rationalisation for its cinema operations", Cathay Cineplexes and mm2 Asia said in a media release on Friday (Jun 17). Media company mm2 Asia acquired Cathay Cineplexes in Singapore in 2017.
The Handy Road outlet in the Dhoby Ghaut area is one of eight Cathay Cineplexes in Singapore. The last screening will be held on Jun 26.
All the existing employees will be redeployed to other Cathay Cineplex outlets, said mm2 Asia in response to CNA's queries. "Cathay Cineplexes has not had any layoffs, including during the COVID-19 pandemic," it added.
The cinema’s closure was a business decision, said mm2 Asia's group CEO Chang Long Jong.
"Over the years, retail traffic demographics have changed. We have had to evaluate the commercial viability of operating two cinemas in the Orchard shopping belt within 1.5km of each other and within 300m of another multiplex," he added.
Cathay Cineplexes' other cinema in Orchard is at Cineleisure. The Handy Road outlet is near Plaza Singapura where Golden Village operates a cinema.
Mr Chang said it will be "business as usual" at Cathay Cineplexes' other outlets in Singapore, and the cinema business remains a key part of the group's overall strategy.
Since COVID-19 restrictions were eased, business for cinemas has picked up significantly, he noted.
"We are actively exploring new cinema innovations that incorporate concepts for live house, e-sports, as well as other offerings and locations, which we hope to be able to share more soon," he added.
In place of
It will be the third cinema operated by The Projector.
“Patrons of The Cathay and fans of The Projector can look forward to enjoying The Projector’s curation of films and live performances, complete with a cocktail and craft beer bar from Aug 23, 2022, onward,” said the company.
The new cinema, named Project X: Picturehouse, is a tribute to the building’s “arthouse cinema past”.
“We are excited to adaptively reuse the cineplex into an alternative space to experience film, live theatre productions, performing arts and live music, with that signature Projector stamp of diversity and inclusivity, right in the heart of the Bras Basah Bugis creative precinct,” said the founder of The Projector Karen Tan.
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This decision is part of "cost rationalisation for its cinema operations", Cathay Cineplexes and mm2 Asia said in a media release on Friday (Jun 17). Media company mm2 Asia acquired Cathay Cineplexes in Singapore in 2017.
The Handy Road outlet in the Dhoby Ghaut area is one of eight Cathay Cineplexes in Singapore. The last screening will be held on Jun 26.
All the existing employees will be redeployed to other Cathay Cineplex outlets, said mm2 Asia in response to CNA's queries. "Cathay Cineplexes has not had any layoffs, including during the COVID-19 pandemic," it added.
The cinema’s closure was a business decision, said mm2 Asia's group CEO Chang Long Jong.
"Over the years, retail traffic demographics have changed. We have had to evaluate the commercial viability of operating two cinemas in the Orchard shopping belt within 1.5km of each other and within 300m of another multiplex," he added.
Cathay Cineplexes' other cinema in Orchard is at Cineleisure. The Handy Road outlet is near Plaza Singapura where Golden Village operates a cinema.
Mr Chang said it will be "business as usual" at Cathay Cineplexes' other outlets in Singapore, and the cinema business remains a key part of the group's overall strategy.
Since COVID-19 restrictions were eased, business for cinemas has picked up significantly, he noted.
"We are actively exploring new cinema innovations that incorporate concepts for live house, e-sports, as well as other offerings and locations, which we hope to be able to share more soon," he added.
In place of
It will be the third cinema operated by The Projector.
“Patrons of The Cathay and fans of The Projector can look forward to enjoying The Projector’s curation of films and live performances, complete with a cocktail and craft beer bar from Aug 23, 2022, onward,” said the company.
The new cinema, named Project X: Picturehouse, is a tribute to the building’s “arthouse cinema past”.
“We are excited to adaptively reuse the cineplex into an alternative space to experience film, live theatre productions, performing arts and live music, with that signature Projector stamp of diversity and inclusivity, right in the heart of the Bras Basah Bugis creative precinct,” said the founder of The Projector Karen Tan.
Continue reading...