Starnberg cinema operator fears about the future: "It is not worth investing" - pandemic exacerbates the situation

Created: 01/07/2022, 02:26 PM

From: Laura Forster

The Portobello House, in which the Starnberg cinema “Breitwand” is, could be sold.

© Andrea Jaksch

The future of the Starnberg cinema is uncertain.

Operator Matthias Helwig does not want to convert the rented space, especially since the house could be sold.

Starnberg - Matthias Helwig has been running his “Breitwand” since 2002 in the so-called Portobellohaus on Wittelsbacherstraße in Starnberg.

How long the only cinema in town will be around is uncertain.

There were problems before Corona, says Helwig.

The pandemic only exacerbated the situation.

Starnberg cinema operator worries about the future: Does “broadband” have to close soon?

"The cinema with two large halls is simply no longer up-to-date," says Helwig, who also runs other cinemas in Seefeld and Gauting.

"There are only very few blockbusters that achieve the desired number of visitors." Cinemas in Munich and other district towns would avoid the problem with several small halls.

“The interests of the visitors have broadened, so they can be better covered.” The current 2G-plus rule only reinforces the tense situation.

“We have to think about what the future should look like,” says Helwig.

Uncertain future for "Breitwand": Talks with Kreissparkasse are ongoing

In the short term, the cinema operator is hoping for support from the Kreissparkasse, which owns the Portobellohaus.

“I would like the rent to be reduced,” he says.

5000 euros per month are currently difficult to achieve.

"The discussions with the Kreissparkasse have unfortunately dragged on for many years."

At the request of the Starnberger Merkur, the bank wrote: “We have a long-term, intensive and trusting cooperation with the cinema operator Matthias Helwig as a credit institute, as a sponsor of the Five Lakes Film Festival and also as a landlord.

We always treat each other fairly and take the interests of our partners into account. ”However, it does not want to reveal whether the Kreissparkasse will accommodate the cinema operator with the rent.

Bank wants to sell Portobellohaus: Kino has to move

According to Helwig, however, the movie theater cannot stay in the Portobellohaus in the long term.

The bank wants to sell the property, Helwig's lease runs until 2027. A conversion of the premises is therefore too delicate for the cinema owner.

“It is no longer worth investing.” Helwig sees the only solution to build a cinema in another location.

One possible location: the property on Bahnhofstrasse, on which the cradle of Starnberg currently stands and on which a new complex is to be built.

"I'm in conversation with the owners and project developers Ehret + Klein," says Helwig.

"But there is nothing concrete yet."

If Helwig closes his cinema, a lot will also change for the Fünfseen Festival.

“We could go to the Schlossberghalle.” However, this is not a perfect solution.

Last year, Helwig rejected rumors about a possible end for the Starnberg cinema.

As long as the state keeps its financial commitments, there is no reason to “change anything”, he emphasized at the time and was looking for sponsors to save his three cinemas.

By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Starnberg newsletter.