The big picture
D.A.R. Demolition began tearing down the theater and restaurant June 17, and the project was completed in early August, according to an email D.A.R. sent to Community Impact. As of late August, both lots are fenced off and down to concrete slabs.
The tear-down came from a redevelopment proposal for the area in 2017, which was put on hold due to ongoing business leases including Manuel’s, a Mexican restaurant adjacent to the cinema. While Manuel’s lease is currently set to expire in December 2025, the owners said they are in lease extension negotiations.
Manuel’s co-owners Jennifer McNevin and Greg Koury are discussing leasing details with Trademark Property Company, who leases and manages Manuel’s property.
The husband-and-wife duo do not have plans to close and are hopeful to extend the lease, McNevin confirmed. McNevin remembers people frequenting Arbor Cinema, and noted its uniqueness in showing foreign films and documentaries.
“It is a big loss for our neighborhood,” McNevin said.
Trademark Property Company had no updates to share about Manuel’s lease, said Liana Moran Zabowski, senior vice president at The Wilbert Group, who spoke on behalf of Trademark in an email sent to Community Impact on Aug. 23.
A closer look
Moran confirmed that Trademark Property Company partnered with engineering firm WGI to remove the two vacant buildings at Great Hills Market. WGI submitted a site plan exemption request form with the city of Austin Development Services Department, according to city documents. A site plan exemption is a development or zoning review done before a building permit can be obtained or approved, according to AustinTexas.gov.
Before demolition started, a team of arborists from a company called Tree Mann Solutions were sent to inspect over 200 trees on-site at the Great Hills Market center, according to city documents. The company found 26 heritage trees on the property, and WGI noted to protect two live oaks in front of where Arbor Cinema was.
Also of note
Originally called Great Hills 8 Cinema and operated by General Cinema Theaters, the movie theater opened on July 14, 1989, but closed in 2000, according to Cinema Treasures. Regal, a branch of British cinema company Cineworld, re-opened the theater in 2003, which became known as Regal Arbor 8 @ Great Hills Cinema. Arbor Cinema closed on Sept. 23, 2022, after almost 20 years of business under Regal, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
The future of the Great Hills Market retail center has been in discussion for several years after Austin City Council approved a zoning change request in February 2018 for the center to add apartments, restaurants and retail space. The approval sparked mixed reactions from community members, as many were hesitant about the potential increase in traffic.
Manuel’s has been in business for 40 years and is celebrating 25 years at its remaining North Austin location. McNevin and Koury said Manuel’s original downtown location closed in December 2022 due to COVID-19 complications. The two are the sole owners after their business partner, Ahmad Modoni, retired three years ago.
“Manuel’s is a part of the fabric of the Austin community,” McNevin said. “People have had many of their significant moments of their lives at our restaurant."
