The Cathay Cineplex in Handy Road to close on Jun 26, independent cinema The Projector to enter as pop-up

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 a Sunday night, 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.