The acclaimed cinema company opens its long-anticipated Lower Manhattan theater with the brand new Press Room museum / bar / print shop.

“Don't hang around and let your problems surround you, there are movie shows ... downtown.” On October 16th, Austin-based cinema-eatery Alamo Drafthouse Cinema welcomed New York film lovers to the very first movie shows at their brand new downtown location, Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan, at 28 Liberty Street.

During the “soft opening” period running through October 21st, guests will receive special discounts on select food and non-alcoholic beverages while staff trains and gets up to speed. Occupying 37,000 square feet on Floor 2B beneath the landmark 28 Liberty Street building in the Financial District, the 14-screen, 578 seat theater is the company’s third New York-area location after Yonkers (2013) and Brooklyn (2016), and the very first in Manhattan. It opens ahead of a string of new Alamo Drafthouse locations due late this year or 2022 in Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; St. Louis, MO; and a Staten Island theater boasting a kung-fu themed video store and bar co-designed and curated by Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA.

“The last eighteen months have been a rollercoaster for our industry, but through it all we’ve believed in the future of this industry,” says Alamo Drafthouse CEO Shelli Taylor. “Opening our Lower Manhattan theater is an expression of our belief that audiences will always seek elevated, communal moviegoing experiences like ours.”

Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan opens amidst an incredible resurgence in the cinema industry that’s seen NO TIME TO DIE, SHANG-CHI: THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, and VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE open to massive box office success, and just in time for the opening weekend of David Gordon Green’s return to Haddonfield in HALLOWEEN KILLS, Ridley Scott’s action epic THE LAST DUEL, and the acclaimed new drama from IFC, director Mia Hansen-Løve’s BERGMAN ISLAND. The coming weeks at Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan will be see a string of major releases like Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE, Wes Anderson’s THE FRENCH DISPATCH, Edgar Wright’s LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, and Chloe Zhao’s ETERNALS.

In celebration of the opening of Alamo Drafthouse at 28 Liberty Street, a series of movie nights was successfully held on the Fosun Plaza.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema offered a taste of its movie programming with three free-admission outdoor screenings on the Fosun Plaza between September 30th and October 14th. Featuring three revered contemporary classics set in the city that never sleeps, these outdoor shows were a chance for Alamo to introduce itself and connect with Manhattan’s movie-lovers.

“We’re so excited to be a part of this community,” says Alamo Drafthouse founder and Executive Chairman, Tim League. “Until we can open our 14 screens to all manner of events, movies and parties, these outdoor shows give us a chance to meet our new neighbors and throw fun movie parties on our new patio!”

YOU’VE GOT MAIL (1998), TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1990), and SUPERMAN (1978) were projected on a screen on 28 Liberty’s South Plaza, which features a signature sculpture by Jean Dubuffet and a Sunken Garden by Isamu Noguchi, every Thursday night at 7:00 pm, and complemented by themed festivities and popcorn before the show. The family-friendly movie nights brought a wide range of communities engaged.

“Fosun is pleased to bring back the 28 Liberty Film Series with Alamo Drafthouse,” said Thomas Costanzo, executive president of Four Trees, Fosun Hive Partner. “The Plaza hosts a variety of community events and we are excited to welcome back the popular movie nights.”

The Press Room

A museum, a letterpress print shop, a bar, and a private event space all-in-one, The Press Room is a brand new bar concept that’s located within Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan.

Like the century-old wax figure exhibits thoughtfully curated and delicately displayed throughout Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn’s House of Wax, The Press Room displays selections from a vast archive of over 60,000 letterpress film advertising plates spanning the 1930s through the 1980s. But this collection will also come to life – The Press Room’s 1938 Vandercook letterpress will be inked and ready to be fired up for special screenings with limited edition greeting cards, private events, and classes for anyone wishing to learn the resurgent art of letterpress printing.

“The Press Room bar’s archive of over 60,000 vintage newspaper movie ad plates spans the history of 20th century cinema, and is a testament to Alamo Drafthouse’s ongoing commitment to making moviegoing a truly special experience,” said Alamo Drafthouse founder and Executive Chairman Tim League.

In addition to a tap wall of 48 draft beers, guests will be able to customize their own bespoke cocktail or choose from a list of original craft cocktails designed by Alamo Drafthouse NYC Bar Manager, Vince Favella. For more info about The Press Room – including a sneak peek at the menu – visit thepressroom.bar.

 

Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan Signature Programming

Alamo Drafthouse’s programmers have curated a limited series of films drawn from each decade of the past century of films set in and about New York City. “Lights of New York” – a nod to the 1928 film that’s been thought of as the first full-length, all “talkie” film – highlights what’s always been special about New York as a setting for tall tales, epic evenings out on the town, and street-level stories of regular New Yorkers.

Additionally, on November 3rd, Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan will participate in Alamo Drafthouse’s “Godzilla Day” exclusive premiere of Toho’s new 4K restoration of Godzilla’s 1954 debut film, GOJIRA.

And because it’s that time of year, Alamo Drafthouse’s signature holiday programming is just around the corner, kicking off with the much-beloved ELF Movie Party, followed by perennial holiday favorites like PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, LOVE ACTUALLY, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE POLAR EXPRESS, GREMLINS, SCROOGED, BATMAN RETURNS, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, as well as genre favorites that include BLACK CHRISTMAS and DIAL CODE SANTA CLAUS, and the LGBTQ+ modern classic CAROL.

 

About Alamo Drafthouse

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-four years later, with 38 locations and counting, Alamo Drafthouse has been called "the best theater in America" by Entertainment Weekly and "the best theater in the world" by Wired. Alamo Drafthouse has built a reputation as a movie lover's oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high profile, star-studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse created Fantastic Fest, a world-renowned film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety. Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of genre cinema from independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. Alamo Drafthouse's collectible art gallery, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. Alamo Drafthouse continues to expand its brand in new and exciting ways, including the American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit film archive dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing film, and Alamo On Demand, a new VOD platform boasting a growing and carefully curated library of entertainment for rental or purchase.

 

About 28 Liberty

28 Liberty, at the heart of downtown NYC, is the go-to destination in Lower Manhattan for recreation and best-in-class dining. The office tower’s 2.5 acre Fosun Plaza hosts a variety of community events throughout the year, from food festivals to arts programs to educational experiences and more. The 38,000-square-foot penthouse is home to restaurateur Danny Meyer’s latest endeavor, Manhatta, a restaurant and bar with sweeping panoramic views of the NYC skyline, and featuring a multifunctional event space accommodating up to 800 guests at three simultaneous gatherings. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Food Hall is among the tenants of the new 200,000-square-foot retail space at the base of the building. 28 Liberty is also bringing in over 30,000-square-feet of various food and dining options on the ground floor retail space. Whether exploring the latest cultural event or sipping cocktails at sunset from the 60th floor, 28 Liberty always offers something new to discover.

 

About Fosun Hive

Utilizing “Hive City + Global Landscape” as its core strategy, Fosun Hive continuously leads the upgrading of industry-and-city integration. Through profound industry operations + industrial investment, Fosun Hive consolidates global industrial resources, focuses on customized industrial C2M model and well-positioned industries to promote the upgrading of urban industries and the high-quality development of the regional economy with the "Hive model". For more information, please visit: www.fosunhive.com.