Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas opened the company's new LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch location at 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Katy, to members of the press for a sneak peek Wednesday.

Work continues on the new theater which is expected to have a soft opening from July 2-19. A grand opening celebration will be held July 20. The new location will be one of 34 Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout the United States. The location at 531 Mason Road in Katy, near the intersection of Mason Road and Kingsland Boulevard, will close June 21.

The new facility will feature eight screens with high resolution projection to ensure clarity, said Robert Saucedo, programming director for Triple Tap Ventures, which operates the Greater Houston area Alamo Drafthouse locations. Other features include reclining seats, a bar with a variety of wines and 46 beers on tap, a selection of more than 40 premium whiskeys and a lounge where the theater will host a variety of events such as Geeks Who Drink and board game nights.

The new Alamo Drafthouse location is expected to have 175 staff members, said Ed Dodds, director of operations for Triple Tap Ventures.

The new location also includes a new parking garage to handle the added traffic at LaCenterra, which is run by Poag Shopping Centers.

"The addition of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will further solidify LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch's position as a premier dining and entertainment destination for our customers in the Houston market and will draw visitors from the surrounding region," said Josh Poag, president and CEO of Poag Shopping Centers.

Saucedo said the theater will participate in the Alamo for All program, which runs movies each Tuesday for those with disabilities that make them sensitive to various types of sensory overload such as bright lights or sounds.

The theater chain is known for its strict age requirements and policies against distractions during a movie showing. Those 17 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult to watch a movie and those six years of age and younger are not permitted in the theater except during screenings of children's movies. It is also known for its unique film clips that are shown prior to movies instead of commercials, said Saucedo.

"You'll never come into an Alamo and see commercials playing," Saucedo said.