Seats in most Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas come with tables where waiters can serve burgers and other meals. Courtesy Photo
The permitting process for building an Alamo Drafthouse movie theater and restaurant in Corpus Christi began this week when developers submitted plans to the city's development department. Permits could be issued within the next two weeks, allowing construction of the entertainment complex at the corner of Staples and Yorktown to begiin. The theater is expected to open in December of this year.
The planned 33,000 square-foot facility will be home to seven movie screens as both a theater and restaurant combination. Unlike most movie theaters, alcohol will be served at the theater.
Headquartered in its birth city of Austin, the Alamo Drafthouse has 26 theaters nationwide. Sixteen are in Texas. The movie complex sells beer and entrees which are served to patrons as they watch movies. Tables are situated between the seats.
A multi-entertainment complex to be called Movies and More was originally planned for the site. Owners of that project combined efforts with Bach Holdings to bring Alamo Drafthouse to the area.
The two would have been competitors. When Alamo Drafthouse first announced it would build in Corpus Christi, the plan was to locate in the SEA District in downtown, near Whataburger Field and Brewster Street Icehouse.
Movies and More paved the way for the venue change. A contintious zoning battle was fought and won last year when neighbors of the proposed complex, which would include a bowling alley, arcade and beer and wine sales, protested the traffic and drinking. That change, along with the partnership between the two entities, have made permitting and construciton possible in the near future.
