REX Cinema Theatre

The REX Cinema‑Theatre was built on the waterfront of Chios by engineers Stefanos Zografos and Konstantinos Marasoglou, with work starting in 1936 and finishing in 1940. The two‑story building has a central entrance with a staircase leading to the cinema hall and a stage for theatrical performances. The opening took place in March 1940 with official guests. In 1941 it was requisitioned by the German forces for screenings, while after the war it hosted foreign films. From the 1970s decline set in, and in 1989 it closed permanently, having shifted to erotic films and westerns. Later it operated as an entertainment venue, until in 1998 it was listed as preserved. In 2000 the Ministry of Culture defined the building’s cultural uses. Today, the upper floor is used as a storage space by the Municipality of Chios and the ground floor occasionally houses municipal services.