Cult cinema closes after 84 years. The inhabitants cannot reconcile themselves to it: “Maybe some collection?”

The beginning of 2023 is not the best time for small businesses. Galloping inflation or rising electricity prices and social security contributions mean that more places with a loyal, but far from mass, clientele have to deliver sad news. Among them was a nearly hundred-year-old cinema.

The Delfin Cinema existed for 84 years. It closes with a horrendous increase in the cost of living

At the beginning of 2023, the Delfin Cinema in Ustka was closed, which tourists can pass on the main street of the city. It has existed as a family business for 84 years, survived the pandemic, but the owners are spreading their hands after huge increases.

“Before the pandemic, the trend was upward. Later, we were hit in the pocket, but after the pandemic, the viewers came back to us again. Tickets were PLN 20 and PLN 24. But after the summer season, we began to gradually raise their prices, because from August we had higher maintenance bills. And from January, the increases are to be even higher” – explains the owner of the sanctuary, Monika Graczyk in an interview with WP.

As the entrepreneur explains, the cost of maintaining the cinema has increased really drastically and this is by no means an exaggeration. In 2021, Kino Delfin paid a maximum of PLN 2,800 for heating the rooms, in December 2022 the bill was more than twice as much. It will be even more expensive in January. The situation is similar when it comes to energy costs.

“Monthly bills throughout the year were at the level of 2.5 thousand, and now we have received a bill for PLN 5,300” – regrets Graczyk.

The inhabitants of Ustka do not want the closure of the Delfin Cinema: “Maybe a fundraiser?”

The good news is that the Delfin Cinema will most likely return in the spring. After the heating season, the owners may be able to continue their business.

The fact is sad, especially when we learn that the inhabitants of Ustka will have no alternative. The nearest cinema they can go to is 18 kilometers from their homes – in Słupsk. Thus, 15,000 residents will probably limit or completely stop watching movies on the big screen.

The Delfin Cinema is associated by residents and tourists with a charming atmosphere. They want to return to a place full of sentiment, which can be seen in the emotional comments under the announcement of closure.

“Your cinema has a soul”, “Hold on, maybe think about a collection?”, “We will be on vacation in February in Ustka. How is it without the Delfin cinema? Fatal news” – sound some of them.

The Delfin Cinema offered not only screenings of well-known productions, but also workshops, author’s evenings and trainings were organized there.