Grand Pera

{{Short description|Shopping center in historic buildings in Istanbul}} {{Expand Turkish|topic=struct|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Emek | native_name = | native_name_lang = | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_size = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Grand Pera.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | image_alt = | caption = | image_map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | fullname = | former_names = | address = 56/58 İstiklal Caddesi | city = Hüseyinağa, Beyoğlu, Istanbul | country = Turkey | location = | coordinates =  | elevation =  | public_transit = | parking = | owner = | operator = | designation = | type = Cinema | event = | seating_type = | suites = | capacity = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | surface = | scoreboard = | screens = | current_use = | production = | broke_ground = | built = | opened =  | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | rebuilt = | years_active = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | civil engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | tenants = | website =  | embedded = }} '''Grand Pera''' is a shopping center and entertainment complex consisting of two historic buildings, the '''Emek Movie Theater''' ({{langx|tr|Emek Sineması}}), a cinema, and the '''Cercle de l'Orient''' building (originally '''Grand Club'''), designed by architects Abraham Pasha and Alexandre Vallaury for residential use in 1883.<ref>{{cite web |title=Büyüleyici Tarihi Bina |trans-title=Grand Pera, A Fascinating Historical Building|url=https://www.grandpera.com/tr/sayfa/tarihi-bina.html |website=Grand Pera |language=tr|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Pera |url=https://akmistanbul.gov.tr/grand-pera |website=AKM Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality|access-date=16 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It is located along İstiklal Avenue in the Hüseyinağa neighborhood of Beyoğlu district, Istanbul, Turkey.

==History== The movie theater began construction in 1884 under the name "Club des Chasseurs de Constantinople" (Hunters Club of Constantinople), and first opened in 1924 under the name ''Melek Sineması'' (Angel Cinema) because of the Art Nouveau style angel figures on the screen. The inner walls and the top of the movie theater have baroque and rococo style figures. The building has since been known under different names such as ''The Greek Gym of Strangali'' in 1909, then as "Nouveau Cirque" (New Circus). In 1918 the building was known as "Yeni Tiyatro" (New Theater), and "Emek Cinema" in the 1940s. Latterly the building had been used as a skating palace.

==Destruction== In 2010, plans were made to demolish the movie theater as part of a shopping mall construction. Several protests were organized to prevent the demolition from taking place.<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/police-intervene-at-emek-theater-protest-featuring-costa-gavras---.aspx?pageID=238&nID=44456&NewsCatID=341 Hürriyet Daily News, Police intervene at Emek Theater protest featuring Costa-Gavras]</ref> In 2013, the building was completely demolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25444033/ |title=Emek yıkıldı!|website=ntvmsnbc.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608031031/http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25444033 |archive-date=2013-06-08}}</ref>

==Shopping and entertainment center== Grand Pera was opened in 2016 after the restoration of the building complex. It is anchored by the cinema, DeFacto<ref>{{cite web |title=Mağazalar|trans-title=Shops |url=https://www.grandpera.com/tr/magazalar.html |website=Grand Pera |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> clothing store, '''Zoe Garden''', a rooftop bar and nightclub,<ref>{{cite web |title=Zoe Garden Eğlenceleri |url=https://www.grandpera.com/tr/sayfa/zoe-garden.html |website=Grand Pera |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> and HADO, where visitors can play a ball game that is both digital and physical.<ref>{{cite web |title=HADO Türkiye |url=https://www.grandpera.com/tr/sayfa/hado.html |website=Grand Pera |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Cinemas in Turkey Category:Theatres in Istanbul Category:Theatres completed in 1924 Category:Beyoğlu Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2013 Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Istanbul Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Istanbul Category:Art Nouveau theatres Category:1924 establishments in Turkey Category:2013 disestablishments in Turkey Category:Entertainment venues in Turkey Category:Former cinemas and movie theaters Category:Shopping malls in Istanbul