Over the past two weeks, crowds have been flocking to West End Park following the opening of its first movie theater on National Day, Qatar Tribune reports.
Seats are only QR15 each, compared to the QR35 usually charged at many cinemas in Qatar, drawing many lower-income residents who were disappointed with the abrupt shuttering of Gulf Cinema last year.
That complex, located in Najma, has been closed for 10 months, but contrary to rumors that it is being demolished, a tender was put out in November to revamp it to meet Qatar’s new, stricter building safety standards.
Qatar Cinema & Film Distribution Co., which floated the tender, has not responded to repeated requests for comment from Doha News about the planned overhaul.
Cinema plans
Meanwhile, the head of West End Park told the Tribune that the plan is to open all four cinema screens, each with a capacity of 500 seats, in the coming months. Indian movies such as Dhoom 3 and Drishyam have proved particularly popular, the newspaper states.
West End, which is located near Mowasalat headquarters in Mesaimeer, officially opened in October with the launch of the Grand Mall.
In addition to the 10,000sqm shopping facility, the development includes a movie theater complex, a cricket stadium (for both male and female players) and an amphitheater, which proved to be a popular draw for residents during National Day.
The project was originally designed to offer much-needed entertainment options for many of the men who live in the Industrial Area, and are banned from entering some malls and parks on Fridays due to “family day” policies.
But its management has repeatedly stressed in the past months that the complex is open to families, too. The Tribune quotes Chairman Mana Ibrahim al Mana as saying:
“Peoples’ perception that the newly-opened theatre is only for single workers or low-income groups is not true. In fact, we have created facilities, like cafeteria for families. We are expecting more families at this venue as and when the remaining theaters open.”
Full completion of West End, which includes a residential area with some 80,000 units, isn’t expected before the end of 2014.
Have you been to the development yet? Thoughts?