Show must go on...buyer wanted for boutique theatre

Gary Potts has been operating the Victoria Cinema on his own. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hamilton's Victoria Cinema could close its doors at the end of the month, but the owner is hoping it won't be the final curtain.

The formal lease has expired but after almost 10 years of running the independent cinema, co-owner Gary Potts is talking to two prospective buyers about taking it over when it closes at the end of this month.

The business was first listed for sale in 2008 and the asking price then was about $450,000.

The former TVNZ sound engineer said the interest had "come out of the blue".

One offer was from an independent buyer and one from an existing cinema operator.

"We had it on the market for a bit but business was slow and it was hard to sell a business like this dependent on the discretionary dollar. We are in the entertainment market, which is a bit harder," he said.

Mr Potts has been travelling from Auckland six days a week to operate the business single-handedly, doing everything from planning movies to selling tickets and running the projector system. When the recession hit, the cinema had to cut back on staff until he was the only one left. He also had to close the cafe connected to the cinema.

Mr Potts started the cinema in May 2002, converting an empty warehouse into a theatre inspired by classic theatres such as the Embassy in Hamilton and the Civic Theatre in Auckland.

The nostalgia-styled cinema has a chandelier, decorative ceiling and features old movie posters from Mr Potts' collection, furniture acquired from other cinemas and an antique projector.

Mr Potts has asked through his website for support from users who don't want the cinema to close.

"If there's enough interest there well that's a good stimulus for prospective buyers."

Mr Potts' business partner, a silent investor, is also looking to quit the business as he initially saw it as a five-year commitment.