Sant Joan will buy the Es Centro theater, closed since the fire that destroyed it in 1978

Saint JohnThe Sant Joan City Council and the Diocese of Mallorca have reached a historic agreement: the purchase by the municipal administration of the former cinema and theater in the Catholic Center building, popularly known as Es Centro. The space has remained unused and closed since a fire destroyed it in 1978. This transaction comes after several attempts in recent years by municipal governments to acquire the building or, at the very least, secure its temporary transfer. None of the negotiations were successful. The mayor of San Juan, Richard Thompson, has confirmed to Tot Pla that the negotiations and contacts initiated at the end of 2023 have come to fruition: "The Diocese has already authorized the sale after the current parish priest of San Juan, Father Francesc Xavier Riutort, submitted a request. The preliminary agreement is for approximately €390,000 for the purchase of 618 square meters, which occupies what used to be the theater within the Es Centro building. The bar is currently open, and on the first floor, there is an area used as a rectory and space for other activities. There is also an area used by the Town Hall and the bar itself as a storage area. All these spaces will remain the property of the Diocese."

The building boasts a grand facade on Palma Street, and the upcoming renovation will enhance the aesthetics of this central area of the municipality. The purchase of the former theater also presents a financial challenge, as external financing will be required for both the initial purchase and the subsequent remodeling and renovation. In this regard, Thompson explains that "the most important step, the purchase agreement, has already been completed, and according to our experts, financing should not pose an obstacle." He notes that the City Council plans to apply for various grant programs from European funds, the Balearic Government, and the Council of Mallorca. The City Council's vision for this building is to launch a long-term cultural project with a potential impact on the social life of the municipality, which, in principle, facilitates access to specific grants for the rehabilitation of public facilities. "Reclaiming the space for the people has always been a priority for our team since the moment we decided to take the step forward and run," says Thompson. Negotiations began in late 2023, led by a committee specifically composed of Thompson himself, and volunteers such as Guillem Balaguer, Arnau Moratinos, and Catalina Gayà Morlà. Once the agreement was on track, it was finalized by Cristina Domínguez, legal advisor to the Sant Joan Town Hall. "Thanks to everyone's work, we have been able to reach this agreement, which is a long-standing demand of the town and is yet another example of the Sant Joan we are building: a town where people can live and that everyone can be proud of," the mayor points out.

The council's intention is that the renovation not only restores the building but also brings a contemporary and functional approach to a space with deep historical roots. The project design must include, among other aspects, the restoration of the stage, the creation of a multipurpose room, and improved accessibility, given that the original building was not designed for current uses and requirements. The municipal government's goal is for this former theater to become a meeting place and hub of cultural activity, open to all residents of Sant Joan. The future facility will be able to host theatrical performances, concerts, screenings, and public events, but will also function as an activity and conference hall to revitalize the town's social life. According to Thompson, "It's about restoring an emblematic space, making the most of it, and revitalizing it so that, ultimately, it contributes to bringing more life and activity to the municipality."

With this agreement, San Juan takes a significant step toward the recovery of its architectural and cultural heritage. The former Catholic Center theater, a building closely linked to the town's past, could reopen its doors after nearly half a century of silence.

In the early 2000s, when Gabriel Mora was mayor of San Juan, the City Council launched a major investment for the urgent restoration and renovation of the building. This involved reinforcing the entire building with an iron structure, and work began to reclaim the space, but it was never completed.

The 1978 fire

The Catholic Center of Sant Joan was built in 1922* at the initiative of Rector Francesc Mas Galmés, with the intention of providing the town with a social, cultural, and educational space at a time when such facilities were scarce in the Pla de Mallorca region. The building soon became a meeting point for the community and, over decades, hosted theatrical performances, film screenings, courses, and parish events, establishing itself as one of the most vibrant spaces in Sant Joan's community life. During the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the Catholic Center's theater was one of the main performance venues in the area. In addition to local productions and amateur shows, films were also screened, and the building played a significant social role as a place for leisure and community gatherings at a time when cultural facilities were limited. Everything changed in 1978 when a fire severely damaged the hall, forcing its closure with no possibility of immediate recovery. From that moment on, the space fell into disuse. Over the years, the closed hall became a symbol of a living but interrupted past, and several municipal teams unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate its acquisition or renovation. The purchase now announced by the Sant Joan City Council closes a cycle of almost half a century of inactivity and opens the door to the recovery of one of the most emblematic spaces of the municipality's social and cultural heritage.