Chimisay Cinema to Reopen as Public Auditorium After 17 Years

The Chimisay cinema in Puerto de la Cruz is about to reopen. The building, which closed in 2008, will be transformed into a new public space. The Chimisay was more than just a cinema; it was a gateway to other worlds and a place where people of all ages in Puerto de la Cruz met, surrounded by the smell of popcorn and the sound of the projector.

Inside, residents of Puerto de la Cruz felt the fear of Jaws, journeyed to a galaxy far, far away with the Star Wars trilogy, watched sadly as Jack didn't fit on the plank after the Titanic sank, or first discovered the magical world of Hogwarts through the early Harry Potter films. Now, after 17 years of being closed, this beloved spot for film lovers of all ages is coming back to life, but this time as an auditorium.

Its walls hold 53 years of history for thousands of Puerto de la Cruz residents across different generations. But these memories stopped being made when its grand maroon curtain closed for the last time on October 17, 2008. This left a gap in the town's heart and made many people go to other cinemas. Even the name "Chimisay" has a story. It's a Guanche word referring to the beach in Güímar where aboriginal shepherds found the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, now known as El Socorro.

The plan to bring the building back to life started on May 16, 2025, when the City Council announced they would buy the property. Months later, on November 14, the council officially bought it for 1,570,000 euros. From then on, the Chimisay became a public asset, with plans to turn it into a space for cultural, artistic, educational, and official events. The Puerto de la Cruz City Council aims for work to start in 2026.

Although the Chimisay first opened as a cinema, it quickly grew into much more, becoming one of Puerto de la Cruz's most important cultural and leisure hubs. It was built on the same site where the Topham Theater once stood. That theater was pulled down in 1969 to make way for a more modern building, fitting with the town's growing urban and tourist development.

This modern building opened on January 3, 1972. The opening event was hosted by actor Tom Hernández, who was from Puerto de la Cruz and had made a name for himself in Hollywood, USA. From that day on, the cinema's screen offered a view of the world to a city that was growing economically and socially.

For decades, the cinema grew alongside the town's urban and tourism development. In its busiest years, it hosted film premieres, school festivals, and political and community gatherings. Over time, it also adapted to new ways people watched films and eventually became a multiplex cinema with multiple screens.

The personal stories from inside the Chimisay are many. María Bello had to ask her father to recall her first visit to the cinema. She was 4 years old at the premiere of Gremlins. She remembers, "An adult ticket cost 250 pesetas (1.50 euros) and a child's ticket was 50 pesetas (0.30 euros) because it was a premiere." The usual price, however, was 100 pesetas (0.60 euros).

She also remembers the intermissions during films. When the lights came on, the curtains and doors would open, and people would rush to the bathroom or to buy sweets. Bello adds, "I always bought popcorn or licorice." She can't recall how long the breaks lasted, but she does remember that the last curtain was left open "so you could come in, and if you were late, the usher would show you to your seat with a flashlight."

Carmen García also has fond memories of the Chimisay. She still remembers the very long line that formed the day she went to see Titanic. She doesn't recall the ticket price, "because many years have passed," but she clearly remembers the excitement of seeing Jack and Rose on the big screen. She also took her children to the Chimisay to enjoy Star Wars, not knowing then how much that saga would influence future generations. García says she wishes her grandchildren "could have experienced the Chimisay."

However, time and competition eventually took their toll. The opening of Yelmo Cines in La Villa Shopping Center in La Orotava started the Chimisay's decline. It finally closed its doors as a cinema in 2008. Now, the City Council is tasked with bringing it back.