Innovative Austin-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is pleased to announce that its first-ever Florida location, Alamo Drafthouse Naples, is set to open its doors to guests on April 29. Alamo Drafthouse is also taking its first shot at mini golf with the opening of HappyLand Movie Miniature Golf, located in the lobby of their new theater.
“The reception from the Naples community has been overwhelming,” says Alamo Drafthouse Cinema CEO Michael Kustermann. “We’re always excited and grateful to be able to bring our unique brand of cinema to a new market, and with HappyLand on top of that this really feels like something special.”
Tickets for the cinema’s opening week are now available for purchase at drafthouse.com, giving guests a chance to reserve their seats for some of the summer’s biggest movies at the new theater in advance. Guests who visit the new theater from April 29 to May 2 will enjoy a 25% discount on select menu items and scratch-and-win cards for a chance to win prizes with every visit. Movie fans can also sign up for Alamo Season Pass, a monthly subscription service that offers unlimited movies, up to one per day, for one killer price. Any Naples guest that joins between April 29 and July 29, 2024, will get their second month free. Full subscription and offer details can be found HERE.
Alamo Drafthouse Naples’ 11 screens will showcase the company’s diverse mix of blockbusters, indies, documentaries, foreign language films, repertory classics, unique special events like Movie Party celebrations of fan favorites, deep dives into hardcore cinephilia, and family-friendly choices like low-cost Kids Camp screenings. Guests can expect to see iconic films like 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, THE IRON GIANT, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, THE BIRDS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, a MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL Quote-Along Party, a JAWS Movie Party, a JURASSIC PARK Movie Party, TIN CUP, and much more in the opening weeks alone. Paired with a strong slate of summer films – including THE FALL GUY, KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, IF, FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA, INSIDE OUT 2, THE BIKERIDERS, and DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Naples cinema fans have a lot to look forward to at their new favorite theater.
In addition to its premium cinema experience, Alamo Drafthouse Naples offers world-class mini golf at HappyLand Movie Miniature Golf. Guests as young as three can enjoy nine imaginative holes, each featuring an impressive sculpture inspired by some of our favorite films, including a giant T. rex and a hungry alligator. HappyLand also features a full bar with craft beers and a golf-themed signature cocktail list, including an alcohol-free option called the Victory Lap and a private label beer from local Naples brewery Riptide Brewing Co. named Chubbs’ 19th Hole Blonde Ale. Inspired by the iconic character from HAPPY GILMORE portrayed by Carl Weathers, a custom tap handle in the shape of Chubbs’ wooden hand is being developed in honor of the late actor. The lounge and mini golf course are also available to rent for events, parties, and screenings, with multiple HDTVs and room for 50 people. HappyLand opens 30 minutes before the first movie each day and closes just after the start of the final show of the evening. Guests can easily start a round by purchasing a token from the concierge and redeeming it at a golf ball vending machine. Tokens cost $7 for adults, $5 for kids (14 and under), and every $20 spent at the HappyLand bar earns guests a FREE token.
“Bringing fun and whimsy to a night out at the movies has been our mission since we opened 28 years ago,” says Alamo Drafthouse founder and Executive Chairman Tim League. “Alamo Drafthouse Naples and HappyLand is a natural evolution in that sense, because what’s more fun than seeing a movie and then hitting golf balls between the legs of a giant gorilla?”
In celebration of its first Florida location, Alamo Drafthouse Naples is also giving away a free year-long, two-person subscription to Alamo Season Pass – its monthly subscription service which entitles subscribers to one free movie per day – and a year of free mini golf. Sweepstakes rules and entry can be found HERE, while more information on Alamo Season Pass can be found HERE.
“We’ve given guests a small preview of the renowned Alamo experience by partnering with the team during our monthly outdoor movie events, and the Naples community couldn’t be more eager to enjoy the real thing,” said Valerie Cope, senior marketing manager at Mercato. “We’re thrilled to welcome such a fun destination to our entertainment lineup and can’t wait to catch a flick on the big screen after putting a round or two.”
The new Alamo Drafthouse Naples is located in a 33,652-square-foot space in Mercato, a high-end, mixed-use retail center. All of its auditoriums are updated with approximately 650 newly-installed luxury recliner seats and 4K digital projection. Parking is free and easily accessible at a parking deck located behind the theater. Like all Alamo Drafthouse Cinema theaters, the new Naples location offers a scratch-made food menu, local beers on draft, and craft cocktails brought to guests in their seats by stealthy servers trained to not disrupt the movie experience. Speaking of not disrupting the movie, the cinema chain’s famed No Talking/No Texting policy ensures guests can watch films free from annoying distractions. Guests are encouraged to arrive up to 30 minutes early to screenings for an ad-free preshow with funny clips, informative video essays, and more.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-seven years later, with 40 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 best-in-class 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 genre film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety featuring independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. 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 with several new theaters announced for this year and beyond.
About Mercato
Mercato is a mixed-use destination featuring 450,000 square feet of main-street-style retail, dining, entertainment, Class A office, and luxury residential along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. Mercato is anchored by Nordstrom Rack, ULTA Beauty and Whole Foods Market. In addition, it is home to more than 20 notable restaurants, including The Capital Grille and premier nightclub Blue Martini as well as over 40 prominent retailers such as J. Crew, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide, Sur La Table and Z Gallerie. Conveniently located off US 41 at Vanderbilt Beach Road in the heart of Naples, Mercato is managed and leased by North American Properties Atlanta (NAPA). To learn more, visit ExperienceMercato.com or follow the center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.