Alamo Drafthouse Cinema CEO and Founder Tim League announced on his blog today that the New Mission Theater will be the company's first property in California. League runs a chain of popular movie theaters that feature a wide swath of programming, including indpendent and repertory films. And, oh yes, they serve beer and food.
League had planned to wait to announce until the restoration project had begun in earnest. But after news broke on SFist yesterday, he writes that "I wanted to fill everyone in on some of our plans."
These include "a full and complete historic renovation" of the structure, which was originally built in 1916. League also writes that his intent is to "...subdivide the balconies into small boutique theaters...in such a way as to preserve nearly all of the amazing architectural details of the space." He also posted some photos he took of the theater's interior recently.
League promises the sort of programing and hospitality that have made the Texas Alamo Drafthouses rightly famous.This includes state of the art projection, the opportunity to eat and drink while enjoying the show, and a gleefully punk-rock attitude towards everything from programing to the standard "turn off your cellphone" announcements.
If you want a taste of League's style of programming, look no further than tomorrow night's screening of "The FP", which is being distributed by League's Drafthouse Films.
Truly this is a great day for movie fans all over the Bay. Stay tuned to this space and the recently created "Alamo Drafthouse at the New Mission" Facebook page for more info.
Correction:
A previous version of this story stated that the New Mission property was the company's first outside Texas. In fact, there is an Alamo Drafthouse in Virginia.