The landmark Stella Cinema at 207 Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, which has been showing films for the past 92 years, is finally to close its doors following a decision by its owners to sell the entertainment centre.

Lisney has set a minimum value of €1.75 million for the cinema which is to be offered for sale at auction on November 5th.

The two main cinemas on the ground floor have been closed for almost a decade but a smaller screening room on the upper floor has continued to show films due to the continuing interest of the O’Grady family, who have owned the Stella since it was built in 1923.

The cinemas front directly on to Lower Rathmines Road and occupy a larger site at the rear with frontage on to Swanville Place. The building has a ground floor extending to 850sq m (9,149sq ft) and an overall area of 1,461sq m (15,725sq ft).

Ross Shorten of Lisney says that the cinemas could be converted for a variety of uses in what was one of the most densely populated Dublin suburbs. Uses permitted in principle and open for consideration include amusement and leisure complex, bar, nightclub, restaurant, hostel, retail warehouse and a place of worship.