Houston film group launches new push to save River Oaks Theatre culturemap.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from culturemap.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Houstonians rally around beloved River Oaks Theatre in new protest
Houstonians rally around beloved River Oaks Theatre in new protest
Photo by Amber Slaughter
Photo by Amber Slaughter
Photo by Amber Slaughter
River Oaks Theatre to show support for the beloved local landmark on Sunday, March 7. Nearly 150 assembled to rally locals around the mecca of art house, local and foreign films, and popular Saturday performances of the
Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is in jeopardy as after closing for six months last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent missed rent payments to Weingarten Realty. “We want to renew our lease, and we want to work with Weingarten anyway we can, but they have not been willing to negotiate with us thus far,” says theater spokesperson Jeff Smith. As CultureMap previously reported, the venue could shutter as early as March 31 hence the public gathering.
Future of River Oaks Theatre uncertain as lease negotiations stall KTRK
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The future of River Oaks Theatre appears to be uncertain.
The lease between Landmark Theatres, which owns and operates River Oaks Theatre, and Weingarten Realty, the landlord, is coming to an end, and ABC13 has been told negotiations to renew or extend the lease have stalled. Talks with the landlord have been periodic and intermittent, and as of late, we just have not been able to get them to try to work with us, said Paul Serwitz, the CEO and president of Landmark Theatres.
The niche venue specializes in independent films, foreign language movies and documentaries. Serwitz calls it an arthouse tailored to cult classics.
Future of River Oaks Theatre uncertain as lease negotiations stall
KTRK
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) The future of River Oaks Theatre appears to be uncertain.
The lease between Landmark Theatres, which owns and operates River Oaks Theatre, and Weingarten Realty, the landlord, is coming to an end, and ABC13 has been told negotiations to renew or extend the lease have stalled. Talks with the landlord have been periodic and intermittent, and as of late, we just have not been able to get them to try to work with us, said Paul Serwitz, the CEO and president of Landmark Theatres.
The niche venue specializes in independent films, foreign language movies and documentaries. Serwitz calls it an arthouse tailored to cult classics.
Paul Serwitz, Landmark Theatres president and chief operations officer, said the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has not helped. Obviously, the government-mandated closure during the COVID-19 crisis had an enormous impact on our revenue, and we are trying to work with Weingarten on a proposal that will be to the benefit of both parties as well as the Houston community, Serwitz said in a release.
ABC13 reached out to Weingarten Realty and received the following statement: Silver Cinema Acquisition Company has been a key component to River Oaks Shopping Center. We have continued to work with the Company who has not paid rent since March of 2020. Conversations have indicated that their business model does not support paying more than a fraction of the previous rent going forward. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused many businesses in the entertainment industry, such as theaters, to fail. We cannot comment on lease negotiations at this time.