Alamo Drafthouse will reopen in Richardson after the previous franchisee filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this month.
The theater will reopen later this summer. An exact reopening date has not been announced.
The gist
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which was recently purchased by Sony Pictures Entertainment, is reopening five North Texas locations, including one in Richardson, according to a news release issued by the company.
“We were heartbroken to hear about the franchisee’s decision to close their locations in Dallas-Fort Worth and Woodbury, MN, but we immediately got to work to acquire these as Alamo Drafthouse owned locations,” Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann said in the release. “We’re so excited to reestablish Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for our teammates and local film communities in these great cities during an incredibly successful summer of moviegoing.”
In addition to the Richardson location, other Alamo Drafthouse North Texas that will reopen include two theaters in Dallas, one in Irving and another in Denton as well as a location in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Per the release, employees who lost their jobs when the locations closed will be paid wages that were due at the time of the theaters closed and members of Alamo Drafthouse’s Season Pass subscription service will receive a free month of service when their accounts are reactivated.
Why it matters
The city of Richardson had previously provided Alamo Drafthouse with $200,000 of a planned $400,000 economic incentive for renovations that included new recliner seating, new carpets and wallpaper.
At the time, City Manager Don Manger said the incentive was meant to revitalize Richardson Heights, the city’s first shopping center.
Part of the agreement included a provision that Alamo Drafthouse would remain in the Richardson Heights Shopping Center for 10 years.
Zooming in
"This is great news for The Core District, where the theater serves as an anchor supporting economic development efforts in the Heights Shopping Center," a statement posted on Facebook by the city's economic development department said.
City officials are expected to meet with representatives of Alamo Drafthouse to support reopening efforts.
