This June, construction work at the historic Payret Cinema, located at the corner of Paseo del Prado and San José in Havana, has reignited public outcry against the Cuban regime's intention to transform the venue into a luxury hotel. Cubans have taken to social media with a slogan that captures their frustration: "Not One More Hotel."
Closed to the public since 2008 due to structural decay and lack of maintenance, the building has stood shrouded in scaffolding for over 15 years, with no reopening date as a cinema in sight.
The project is spearheaded by GAESA, the Cuban military's business conglomerate, which is driving the creation of the Manzana Payret tourist complex. This endeavor involves the French construction company Bouygues-Bâtiment and is expected to cost over $300 million.
Plans include a five-star hotel with approximately 300 rooms, to be erected where the Kid Chocolate sports arena once stood. This facility has already been demolished to make way for the new development.
The Legacy of Payret Cinema
The public's opposition is not a recent phenomenon. Back in September 2022, as the project began to take shape, Cubans voiced their outrage online, lamenting, "They destroyed the Payret Cinema, sign and all." Further discontent emerged in February 2023, when a crane removed the iconic cinema sign, an act many saw as marking the site's definitive end.
Anger is further fueled by the stark contrast between the growing hotel industry and the ongoing hardships faced by the Cuban people. Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero has stated that Cuba already boasts over 393 hotels and more than 72,000 rooms in state-run facilities.
A Cultural Icon at Risk
The Payret is not merely any building. Established by Catalan immigrant Joaquín Payret in 1877, it was a pioneer in Cuba's transition from theater to cinema. With a capacity of 2,000 seats, it was once the largest cinema in Havana. In 1953, the Payret screened the first CinemaScope film on the island, featuring an 18-meter-wide screen. In 1958, Havana had more cinemas than New York, with the Payret as the centerpiece of its cultural industry.
Its walls witnessed performances by luminaries such as Sarah Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova, Rita Montaner, and Rosita Fornés. The lobby housed the sculpture "La Ilusión" and bas-reliefs of the nine Greek muses, crafted by Cuban sculptor Rita Longa.
By 2017, reports depicted the interior as a "tangle of iron, rubble, shattered seats, and rats," a testament to the neglect imposed by the regime over the years.
Preservation vs. Modernization
When controversy ignited in January 2019, then-Havana historian Eusebio Leal sought to quell concerns by promising that "the Payret will remain a cinema for Cubans" and that the hotel would aid in its restoration. Leal's death in 2020 left Havana's cultural heritage without a key institutional defender, and construction of the tourist complex resumed in February 2022.
GAESA has already altered the landscape around Central Park with the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski and the Hotel Packard, establishing a pattern of hotel expansion in Havana's historic center that progresses at the expense of cultural heritage amid an unprecedented economic crisis for the population.
"Turning a cultural icon into a luxury hotel is not just an architectural loss. It erases our memory. For this reason, discussing the Payret is not merely nostalgia; it is an act of resistance," summarized a viral social media post, capturing the sentiments of those who once queued outside its marquee.
FAQs About the Payret Cinema Transformation
Why is the transformation of the Payret Cinema controversial?
The conversion of the Payret Cinema into a luxury hotel is controversial because it represents the loss of a significant cultural landmark and is seen as a move that prioritizes tourism over preserving Cuban heritage.
What role does GAESA play in this project?
GAESA, a business conglomerate linked to the Cuban military, is leading the redevelopment of the Payret Cinema site into a luxury hotel as part of the Manzana Payret tourist complex.
What historical significance does the Payret Cinema hold?
Founded in 1877, Payret Cinema was pivotal in the development of cinema in Cuba, hosting numerous cultural icons and being the first to show a CinemaScope film in the country.