Cinestarz to take over former Guzzo theatre in Dollard-des-Ormeaux

Bruce Gurberg, CEO of Cinestarz standing in the gutted Guzzo Cinema lobby in Dollard-Des Ormeaux on Sources Boulevard.

A movie theatre that closed in December in the West Island will reopen under new management.

The Guzzo property in Dollard-des-Ormeaux will become a “Cinestarz Deluxe” and like they say in the movies, it’s the end of an era.

After decades in operation, this Guzzo movie complex on des Sources Boulevard is being gutted.

Bruce Gurberg, CEO of the Montréal-based Cinestarz chain is promising a new VIP experience here.

“With my famous reclining seats, fully reclining. You’re going to have massive screens for each room. You’re going to have the DTS surround sound,” he said.

Gurberg said negotiations began last year to make this location his sixth Cinestarz movie theatre after Cote-Saint-Luc, Cote-des-Neiges, and three others in Ontario.

He promised the top ticket price will be $16 for a cinematic experience that is rewriting the script on movie theatres.

The vibe will be “modern beautiful” said Gurberg.

Construction will begin in February 2025 and the red-carpet opening will be this summer - just in time for the blockbuster movie season.

Gurberg added he wants to keep the IMAX room.

“We’re in negotiations currently with IMAX, and I would like to continue with them. We’ll see how the negotiations go.”

Meanwhile the Guzzo group has been given an extra week to secure financing or a trustee will be given complete control of the theatre chain.