Faro || Forum Algarve shopping centre in Faro is set for major redevelopment as the management announces a completely revamped cinema hall, and plans for a large scale Fnac store have been revealed by the borough council – both attractions are expected to open this year at the shopping centre.
While the new cinema screens have been confirmed to open this summer by Forum Algarve – after the unexpected closure of the SBC Cinemas on Sunday July 6 – news of the Fnac store has come from the Faro City Hall this week but is still unconfirmed by the shopping centre.
Faro mayor Rogério Bacalhau told Sulinformação online news that the licensing for the Fnac project, which would take up a large space on the first floor, selling books, audio equipment, computers and other electronic items, was approved by the city hall in “March or April” and that he himself kept a close eye on the process to ensure “all went smoothly”.
“With the opening of Fnac, Forum Algarve would gain an ‘anchor store’,” he told the newspaper, adding that its inauguration could happen before Christmas.
The only large scale Fnac store available in the Algarve can be found in Guia’s Algarveshopping and is one of the most popular commercial spaces in the centre, attracting customers from across the Algarve and beyond.
As to the revamped cinema hall, the shopping centre’s press officer Nuno Mendão confirmed to the Resident this week that “the theatre will be opening as soon as possible under new management and with improved infrastructures”.
The introduction of new cinema screens comes after the closure of the SBC Cinemas, which had been bringing blockbuster movies to Faro for 12 years and included nine theatres.
Nuno Mendão said that SBC “was not able to keep up with the renovation work Forum Algarve wanted to carry out in the cinema theatres”.
In an official statement, SBC International Cinemas said: “The cinema is no longer part of our long-term plans” – and thanked all its “clients and employees” who supported the company for the 12 years it operated in Faro, saying “we share their sorrow”.
Speaking to Barlavento newspaper, Sérgio Nunes, a projectionist at the cinemas for 10 years, said SBC was a “great company” to work for and that it “always fulfilled its commitments to employees”.
Nunes added that SBC is due to meet with workers to settle any remaining issues but that “no cent has been left unpaid”. “We are all very sad that the cinemas have closed as we were like a family” – 30 staff members are now reported to be unemployed.
The cinema industry in Portugal has been hit by a major crisis these past few years. Several cinema screens closed down across the country in 2012 and 2013 when the Socorama-Castello Lopes film distributor entered financial difficulties.
The majority of screens, however, were later reopened by Brazilian group Orient, under the name of Cineplace, including in Portimão and Guia.
According to recent data, the number of moviegoers in Portugal has dropped nearly 25% since 2011.
By MICHAEL BRUXO
news@algarveresident.com
New cinema and Fnac store earmarked for Forum Algarve
