Historic Cinema Rex to Reopen as Cinespot at Parque Santiago

The iconic Cinema Rex in Mérida’s Santiago neighborhood is preparing to reopen almost two years after closing its doors, marking another chapter in a story filled with false starts and unfulfilled promises.

Cinespot, a Mexican cinema chain with locations in Mexico City, will take over the historic building on Calle 57 across from Parque de Santiago. The company’s website now lists a Mérida location, though no opening date has been announced.

The news comes after years of uncertainty following the March 2023 closure of what was then Cinemex Rex. The shuttering ended 74 years of continuous operation and left the Santiago barrio without the last standalone cinema in Mérida’s historic center.

In June 2023, Uruguayan cinema operator Cinestar Corporation announced plans to renovate and reopen the building. Workers repainted the facade bright yellow and installed signage reading “Starhaus Cinema Rex” by late 2024. The company said it would transform the original two theaters into four smaller screening rooms, each seating about 100 people.

But Starhaus never opened. By early 2025, the renovation appeared stalled with no activity at the site. Now Cinespot has emerged as the latest operator hoping to revive the beloved theater.

The Cinema Rex first opened Jan. 13, 1949, with a screening of “Man-Eater of Kumaon.” The art deco building originally featured a single auditorium with capacity for 700 to 800 patrons, ornamental crystal lighting, and acoustic treatments that were considered cutting-edge for the era.

The theater underwent its first major transformation in 1998 when it was split into two screens and joined the Cines Hollywood chain. MM Cinemas took over in 2008 before Cinemex acquired the property in 2011.

For generations of meridanos, the Rex served as more than just a movie theater. Families would catch a film and then walk next door to Mercado Santiago for dinner. Tuesday evening danzón performances in the park added to the neighborhood atmosphere that made Santiago a destination.

The closure in 2023 came as Cinemex consolidated operations in suburban multiplexes offering 10 or more screens. With just two theaters, the Rex couldn’t compete on variety despite its prime location and loyal following.

Santiago has seen multiple cinemas come and go over the decades. The neighborhood once hosted the Rialto and Internacional theaters, while nearby barrios supported venues like the Cantarell, Fantasio, Olimpia, and Mérida. Most closed as audiences migrated to air-conditioned shopping center multiplexes in Mérida’s northern expansion.

Architecture professor Ileana Góngora Hernández, who wrote her thesis on Mérida’s historic cinemas, called the Rex “entrañable” — endearing — for its integration into neighborhood life. The building’s vertical facade broke with the traditional horizontal streetscape of colonial Santiago, creating a landmark visible from blocks away.

Cinespot operates budget-friendly theaters targeting working-class neighborhoods, a model that could align well with Santiago’s traditional character. Residents and cinema enthusiasts are left waiting to see if this latest resurrection attempt will finally bring the lights back on at one of Mérida’s most storied addresses.