Newly renovated Hollywood Theatre in Kitsilano changes ownership | Daily Hive

Hollywood Residences (left) and Hollywood Theatre (right). (Google Maps)

There has been a new change of ownership in a historic cultural and entertainment venue in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.

This follows its recent renovations integrated with an adjacent new-build, mixed-use rental housing development.

In a LinkedIn post, Vancouver-based developer Dayhu Group of Companies announced it had acquired the Hollywood Theatre and Hollywood Residences buildings at 3123-3137 West Broadway.

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“We’re excited to grow our residential rental portfolio in Vancouver while continuing the stewardship of this historic 600-person venue,” reads the post.

The single-screen Hollywood Theatre in Kitsilano first opened in 1935, and showed first-run movies such as Casablanca and Gone with the Wind during its days as a community cinema. But shortly after the theatre was last acquired, it closed in June 2011, after more than 75 years.

hollywood theatre west broadway kitsilano vancouver

Post-renovation condition of The Hollywood Theatre. (Hollywood Theatre)

In 2018, the municipal government approved Bonnis Properties’ proposal to fully retain and renovate the Art Deco-style theatre, operating as a for-profit arts, cultural, and event venue. This followed years of community activism to save the venue in response to a controversial earlier plan to build a new two-storey fitness gym.

In exchange, as a part of the plan to save the theatre from demolition, the City granted the developer — which is also the longtime owner of the Commodore Ballroom — two floors of added density to achieve a new six-storey, mixed-use building immediately to the west, containing 40 strata condominium ownership homes. These units are currently used as market rental homes.

The residential development helped cover the cost of the theatre renovations. The new building’s ground-level commercial tenants currently entail Serano Greek Pastry, Oakberry, and Yum Ice Creamery & Sweet Shop.

Post-renovation condition of The Hollywood Theatre. (Hollywood Theatre)

MA+HG Architects designed the theatre renovations and new building. The revamped theatre reopened in 2020 after receiving its liquor license, and the new residential building reached completion in 2022.

Kerry Bonnis of Bonnis Properties previously told Daily Hive Urbanized his family-owned company is strategically disposing of some of its assets to free up capital to pursue new developments.

Dayhu Group’s portfolio primarily consists of major industrial properties, but they also own various urban commercial properties.

In 2024, the City also approved a similar proposal to retain and renovate the historic Dunbar Theatre by integrating it with a mixed-use residential and commercial development.

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