Expanding its cinematic footprint in the Bay Area, Alamo Drafthouse plans to open two new movie theaters, adding to the list of favored San Francisco haunts for cinephiles. According to Variety, the Austin-based chain is preparing to unveil locations in Mountain View and Santa Clara. It aims to elevate the movie-going experience with upgraded amenities and its hallmark blend of mainstream and alternative film fare.
The new Alamo Drafthouse Mountain View will occupy a 64,500 square-foot space, including 10 auditoriums with roughly 1,100 luxury recliners, Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, celebrating a decade's presence in San Francisco by saying, "By 2025 we’ll have been in San Francisco for 10 years, and this feels like the perfect way to celebrate," as Variety reported. On the other hand, Alamo Drafthouse Westfield Valley Fair will set up its 10 auditoriums and 1,500 recliner seats in a 62,228 square-foot area at the Westfield Valley Fair shopping center.
Not just limited to the silver screen spectacles both locations are set to feature cutting-edge 4K digital projection and enveloping Dolby Atmos sound systems, they will also provide a carefully curated culinary and bar experience. Furthermore, to mark this expansion, the chain is offering five yearlong, two-person subscriptions to their Alamo Season Pass, allowing movie enthusiasts to indulge in their daily film fix, the giveaway details can be found at Alamo Drafthouse's official site.
Dedicated to preserving the reverence of theater-going, Alamo Drafthouse remains stern in its no-talking, no-texting, and no late arrivals policy, a crusade for unspoiled cinematic immersion as patrons recline in plush seats and enjoy a full food and drink menu, the company's trademark, in-theater dining options continue to redefine what it means to watch a movie. In a statement obtained by Variety, David Sternberg of Brookfield Properties touted the arrival of Alamo Drafthouse to the Village at San Antonio Center, anticipating it to be a resounding hit with the local community.
After a challenging period that saw the company file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2021, Alamo Drafthouse, which operates 44 locations nationwide, has shown resilience — now under the ownership of Sony Pictures Entertainment. This growth initiative underscores a commitment to delivering quality experiences for Bay Area moviegoers, proving that even in an era of streaming dominance, the allure of a well-curated, communal film viewing endures. According to Silicon Valley, Colin Shaughnessy, executive VP at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, commented on the synergy of this partnership, suggesting that Alamo Drafthouse's innovative cinema experience complements the shopping center's diverse premium offerings, cementing its status as a destination in Northern California.
