The Alamo Drafthouse, a Texas company that is opening a new movie theater in the historic Metro Theater on Broadway between 99th and 100th Streets, just applied for a liquor license. That’s right, get ready to throw back a cold one while you watch a movie! (Caveat: liquor licenses must be approved by public bodies and such.)
The theater, which first announced it would be coming to the Upper West Side in April, also serves food directly to your seat before and even during the movie. The new theater will keep the historic Metro Theater facade, but renovate the interior to add a kitchen and 5 screens. As we’ve said before, this is arguably the most exciting development to occur on the Upper West Side in years.
The liquor license is big news, in part, because it begins to resolve one of our biggest fears: that the Alamo might not come after all. In an interview a few months ago Alamo President Tim League told the website Nerdist that the company was having some “permitting issues” in New York. The company told us not to worry, but months have passed without any more news about the theater, and at last check the For Lease sign was still up outside the old Metro. According to the city Buildings Department, no new building permits have been approved, but the liquor license at least makes it apparent that the company is firmly committed to opening up. The hearing about the license is set for Oct. 10. The company has said the theater will open sometime next year, but hasn’t gotten any more specific.
Find out all of the details about the new theater in our exclusive Q&A with Tim League here.
Thanks to Nick Prigo for the tip and photo.
Wine please, and big gulp iced green tea with lemon.
… but please, please: *NO* olives from Fairway!
I like the Alamo’s policy about silence, non-texting, etc. but in the New York Marketplace, I’m wondering how they are gonna ensure that given that they will serve booze.
Granted, some people come to the theater liquored up (or drink while in it), but New Yorkers who feel entitled to talk, text and worse during movies…hard to see them stopping.
One can only hope. Just think that offering beer is attracting the “wrong” audience. Hope I’m wrong.
Yuk. A Texas company owning a theater in NYC. I live in Texas and that’s a good reason not to go near it.