Alamo Drafthouse El Paso Not Affected by Bankruptcy, East Location Opening Soon

Texas-based movie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday (3/3), but don’t worry Draftheads, the existing Montecillo location or the recently completed East El Paso location will not be affected.

“As an independently owned and operated franchisee, there is no direct impact on our operations in El Paso,” Neil Michaelsen, CEO and President of Triple Tap Ventures LLC said. “Our El Paso locations are not in bankruptcy and we…look forward to opening our East El Paso location soon and continuing to be a destination of choice for the movie lovers of El Paso."

Is Alamo Drafthouse East ever going to open?

Movie-going Eastsiders who have been anxiously awaiting the opening of the Alamo Drafthouse on Pellicano won’t have to wait much longer, if there’s any truth to what I’ve been hearing

Word on the street is the projectors will start rolling and the food ninjas will begin serving on or about March 31. When I asked the local operators about the rumor, they refused to confirm – but they also didn’t deny.

“We will be able to share an official opening date in the next few weeks,” was their reply. The theatre’s local public relations firm echoed the non-denial, stating, “can't confirm a date yet but it will be soon.”

In January I was told they would open when film studios were ready to begin releasing more first-run movies. The highly anticipated Godzilla vs Kong is scheduled for a March 31 release. Just sayin’.

Masks

Per the executive order Gov. Abbott issued on Tuesday (3/2), face coverings do not have to be worn in public places beginning March 10. A business, however, can still require its customers and employees to wear masks on its property. Alamo Drafthouse will be one of those businesses.

"We are only following the guidance of the CDC and medical experts, not politicians,” the theatre chain tweeted. “Right now, at what we hope is the beginning of the end of COVID, the health of our teams and our guests remains this company's top priority."