Houston’s historic River Oaks Theatre, which has been closed since March 2021, has announced that it will reopen on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The closing of the theater was due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many restaurants, movie theaters, and other service industries. However, ultimately the art-house cinema chain Landmark Theatres, which operated the River Oaks Theatre, was unable to come to an agreement with the then-owners of the River Oaks Shopping Center regarding negotiations for rent.
River Oaks Theatre marquee. Image credit: Corey Watson
In 2022, Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of the Houston-based Star Cinema Grill, acquired the theater and announced that it would be reopening the space. At the time, a reopening date was not announced. Regarding the delay, a representative of the theater told Glasstire, “The process to reopen the River Oaks Theatre was a challenging road. There were many factors that contributed to the delays, but mainly it was the unknown things you encounter in 85-year-old buildings, along with working through the process of proper historical preservation and restoration.”
In a press release, Omar Khan, the President/CEO of Culinary Khancepts, commented, “This project holds a special place in our hearts. As the only Houston-owned and operated cinema chain, and with a deep connection to the city, we were uniquely positioned to preserve this historic theater. We are incredibly proud and grateful to have played a role in saving such a cherished venue. It would have been unthinkable for Houston to lose this beloved art house.”
The newly renovated theater will offer a variety of films, including independent, arthouse, and classic movies. The grand opening will feature Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 Joker film. Other special events include a 50th-anniversary screening of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with live shadowcast performances, and a preview of The Herricanes, a documentary about Houston’s all-female football team.
See the full list of upcoming films and purchase tickets at the River Oaks Theatre website. The first 800 guests to watch a movie on opening day will receive an exclusive keepsake, a custom gold coin. The keepsake is inspired by an early 1900s tradition when movie theaters awarded the first patron a gift of gold.
2 comments
Good to know that the River Oaks Theatre is opening again! Thanks for sharing this!
Fantastic news! Thanks and gratitude to Culinary Khancepts and Omar Khan for having the vision (and I assume the resources) to bring the River Oaks Theatre back to life. Unlike the disastrous end that met the lovely art deco building that used to house the Alabama Theatre, we will once again enjoy the ambience of the historical and romantic atmosphere of the River Oaks Theatre.