After hinting that the popular Empire Cinema & Eatery in suburban Wellington was quietly for sale, owner and local Island Bay resident Pat Vinaccia has officially put the business on the market and is promising to help transition the successful operation to a new owner.

Located at 214 The Parade in Island Bay, the two-storey Empire building dates back to 1924 when it opened as a theatre and billiard hall. Films were screened until the mid-1960s when declining audience numbers resulted in the theatre closing, and the building was subsequently used as retail premises for around 40 years. In 2004, the Werry and Hays families took over the building converting it back into a movie theatre and adding a cafe, before selling to Vinaccia in 2013.

He breathed new life into the character building and undertook a major upgrade before a grand re-opening in May 2015, winning a Dulux Colour Award for the ArcHaus Architects-led renovation project. Judges described the transformation as “one of the most impressive before and after restorations with the bold palette respecting the heart of the old building with colours that revitalise and create an iconic, Baz Luhrmann-esque, vibe”.

With a combined capacity of 169 seats across three boutique cinemas offering tiered, sofa-style seating for optimal viewing and visibility, along with fully-digital projection and immersive sound, The Empire showcases a curated and balanced film schedule covering major new releases, independent films and documentaries, family movies and retrospective features.

The restaurant and café has a fully-integrated commercial kitchen and pizza ovens, is designed for high volume service and efficiency, and also has a licensed bar and outdoor seating area. A street-facing takeaway coffee window caters to daytime foot traffic in the area, making the facility an all-day hospitality venue with a broad client base.

The business generated sales revenue of $1.64 million for the 2025 financial year, with significant uplift forecast driven by the return of delayed major film releases, and an expanded release pipeline. A packed calendar featuring 140-plus new titles including major franchises and seasonal hits underpins confidence in sustained revenue growth over the next 18 months.

Rodger Howie and Richard Wilson of Bayleys Business have been engaged to market the business interests of The Empire Cinema & Eatery, with a sale by negotiation campaign now underway.

Describing it as a turnkey opportunity for an owner-occupier or investor, and with no prior industry experience required, Howie says this is a semi-hands off operation with robust operating systems in place and a loyal customer catchment.

“Recent investments have modernised the projection, automation, and customer experience systems, while retaining the charm and architectural heritage of the venue.

“We understand that the staff would be keen to remain under new ownership and this would provide business continuity for the operation which is open seven days a week.

“The well-patronised eatery operates alongside the cinema business but could equally standalone if required by a new owner. The Empire Cinema & Eatery is a neighbourhood institution with strong repeat clientele, drawing on a 25,000-strong catchment within a 3km radius, expanding to 55,000 within 5km.”

A long lease through to 2033 on flexible terms provides security for a new owner who could leverage the significant capital investment made by Vinaccia and build on the cinema’s century-old legacy, says Howie.

“It is clear that the cinema and eatery is close to Island Bay residents’ hearts. There are 6,000 followers on The Empire’s Facebook business page and there is also a 7,500-strong customer database which has capacity for an expanded marketing and loyalty programme to be activated.

“The owner has been lauded for his community spirit and for bringing the cinema back to life. Cinema-going should be an experience and The Empire definitely offers that with all-day hospitality sitting alongside the cinema offerings.”

Proven as a successful business operation, Wilson says there are identified pathways to further lift the income streams.

“Expansion opportunities include themed film night and special screenings, private bookings for community and corporate events, and collaboration with community groups and creatives for exhibitions. This is a fun and classy venue and it lends itself to becoming a destination establishment – beyond being simply a cinema and eatery.

“The restaurant/café also has potential to broaden the scope of its offerings and could suit an experienced hospitality operator looking to position themselves in a vibrant and engaged neighbourhood.”