Crews strip former Sambíóin cinema building for expansion

Demolition and excavation are under way at the former Sambíóin cinema building at Álfabakki 8, mbl.is reported. The roof and everything inside have been removed as work begins to prepare the building for expansion.

The building will be extended by 53.5 metres, bringing its total length to 120 metres and its floor area to 10,000 square metres. Nova, a telecommunications company, is due to move into the premises. Property company Eignabyggð is overseeing the redesign.

Plans include a 1,000-square-metre grocery store on the ground floor. The operator says a smaller store would not be viable in the area, partly because of the distance to the nearest residential neighbourhood.

Sambíóin operated a cinema in the building for 44 years before it closed earlier this year. For a time, the building was also home to Broadway, described as the city’s most popular nightclub.