Majestic Cinema Nambour in better times.
Photo credit: Mike Korsos – Korsos Photography
by Janine Hill
SIX WEEKS after Majestic Cinemas went into voluntary administration, the company has announced it will close its Nambour venue.
The company CEO, Kieran Dell, had been hopeful of re-negotiating rents with landlords to retain as many of the Majestic cinemas as possible but planned work at the C-Square building thwarted his hopes of hanging on to Nambour.
“Unfortunately, our current administration process coincides with plans for an impending major refurbishment of the C-Square building, and as a result, it makes sense for us to close our doors at this time,” said a Majestic Cinemas statement.
The cinema will remain open for the Easter break and school holidays but will cease trading on 14 April.
The closure comes despite a call by community members, such as Sunshine Coast councillor David Law, for people to go to the movies to save the cinema.
In the same week that the closure was announced, members of the public posted online that there were only one or two people seated at some screenings.
The numbers were poor despite tickets being competitively priced compared to Event Cinemas at Maroochydore, the nearest other cinemas.
News of the cinemas’ closure was described as “very sad” by a number of movie-goers and Mr Dell agreed.
“We are very sad about it. We hoped we might be able to do a deal. The refurbishment was the last piece in the puzzle, really,” he said.
He acknowledged that it had been difficult to build numbers at Nambour since the Majestic moved into C-Square eight-and-a-half years ago.
“We expected Nambour to become more of an entertainment hub, particularly for people who didn’t want to go to the coast because of the traffic. We said it was the hub of the hinterland, people coming from Yandina and Eumundi,” he said.
“I think Nambour hasn’t achieved its potential to be the hub of the hinterland, despite all the talk of the special entertainment precinct. It’s just moving too slow.
“PEOPLE SCARED TO BE OUT AT NIGHT”
“There’s a few venues, I know, that have opened, but it just hasn’t got to that point.”
Mr Dell said law and order issues had contributed to the town’s failure to thrive as an entertainment hub.
“The problem for Nambour is that people are scared to be out there at night,” he said.
“You go there on a Friday and Saturday night and there’s no people on the street.”
NAMBOUR GROUPS: HOPES HIGH FOR CSQUARE HUB DESPITE CLOSURE
Meanwhile, local organisation, Nambour Groups, discussed the Cinema’s closure at recent meetings.
“We were aware, early on, of the various hurdles and unsteady business factors ahead,” said organiser Rhonda Billett. “It is very disappointing to us all, that we are losing these businesses.
“We have worked fiercely behind the scenes these last few weeks with Sunshine Coast Council CEO Emma Thomas, as well as Emma’s amazing Economic Development team, in working through all avenues for this site. Whilst it has not been viable to to keep the cinema and pinball arcade, due to numerous business factors, we have had some positive feedback over the years from Sandran, the commercial property owners of C Square and we look forward to see them take it to the next level.
“Sandran are an amazing company, they have owned CSquare for only a few years, they also happen to be the long-term landlords of my business premises in Nambour. The company are absolutely financially invested in Nambour. I’ve personally found the father-son team to be generous, smart, commercial operators and Nambour needs their professional expertise, guidance and investment for the future we are all craving for the CBD of Nambour.”
Ms Billett said the CSquare building served as an important entry point into Nambour. “With Nambour hosting an event for the 2032 Olympics, this entry point, adjoining this commercial property plays an important role in Nambour’s future.
“We are lucky in Nambour, many people overlook the fact that we have the transport infrastructure that the rest of the coast is desperately wanting.
“We have heavy rail right into our CBD and with the CSquare property owners looking to further enhance their building, that adjoins our Nambour transport hub, that is a huge positive for Nambour’s future.”P