YVONNE WEBB and VISHANNA PHAGOO
CinemaOne is set to expand its movie theatre experience into Chaguanas and La Romaine – a venture that has the business districts eager for the premiere openings, and the promise of a renewal of the entertainment sector in central and south Trinidad.
CinemaOne will open its luxury-styled Gemstone theatres at Gulf City Mall, La Romaine – in San Fernando – before the end of October, with another making its way to Price Plaza, Chaguanas in the first quarter in 2023.
The La Romaine opening is part of a revival for Gulf City – one of the first malls in TT to have inbuilt movie theatres, nearly 30 years ago.
It was always felt that the cinemas and the first bowling alley which Gulf City introduced, but was forced to close, was ahead of its time.
Now, with a growing population and appreciation for this form of entertainment, CinemaOne CEO and co-founder of the Gemstone theatres, Ingrid Jahra, is set to capitalise on that market.
Jahra told Business Day that San Fernando was always on the cards for its operation.
[caption id="attachment_980345" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From left, chairman of Endeavour Holdings Ltd John Aboud, CEO of CinemaOne Ingrid Jahra and CEO of Endeavour Holdings Ltd Anthony Rahael at the launch of Gemstone Price Plaza at the Brix Hotel, Cascade, on Tuesday. - FILE PHOTO/VISHANNA PHAGOO[/caption]
In conversation with East Indian movies distributor Raj Maharaj, who used to manage the two 500-seat theatres at Gulf City, which attracted more customers than there were seats, Jahra is convinced a ready market awaits them. The theatres will be scaled down in size but not in grandeur, she said.
Indian movies will be one of CinemaOne’s attractions.
“We came to market with IMAX at One Woodbrook Place, our second experience with Gemstone is what we have brought to San Fernando.”
Two movie theatres – Ruby and Sapphire – with seating capacity for 126 movie lovers (58 and 68 seats respectively) will provide a much more intimate setting.
“It is a boutique-seat service, where there is no line. You come, purchase your ticket either on line or at the box office, look at your menu, go to your seat and refreshments are served.”
The allure, she said, are the chairs which are comfortable recliners.
“The setting is more intimate, the halls in San Fernando are different and bigger than the ones in Port of Spain.”
The small differences, she explained, is to ensure each location has something that is unique.
Jahra is not worried about the movie theatres – Caribbean Cinema at South Park and MovieTowne at C3, which are in close proximity to Gulf City.
“I am not in competition with them because they are not offering my movie experience.
“I know southerners like going to movies and I was looking for a market, that is why I came to South. I cannot give a set date for the opening, but fingers crossed, in the month of October.
“We are hoping to make it for the big movie title – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on November 10. If I am not opened by then, som
