Going to the theater to see a movie is not what it what it used to be. Plans for Arizona’s first Alamo Drafthouse, a Texas-based dine-in theater was originally supposed to be built in downtown Chandler but fell through, due to the agreement not working out.

“It was a little bit of a blessing in disguise” according to operating partner, Derek Dodd. The layout for the original setting was supposed to only have six screens versus the nine that the new location is now able to provide.

Dodd said that both him and his main franchise partner, Craig Paschich, chose Arizona as their market to develop. “There are [a] few cinema-eatery type concepts here, but they are all in Scottsdale and not very many others [in the rest of the state]” Dodd explained.

A female customer has high hopes for the Alamo theater in Arizona, saying that she, “can definitely see them as being some great competition to other cinemas.”

The cinema emits a more casual feel. Customers can easily select their movie and reserve their seats, then have an appetizer or even a beverage in the lobby while waiting for the movies pre-show to begin. Or, they can simply come in to have lunch.

If customers decide to put a hold on food and beverages until they settle in their theater, they can conveniently look over the menu until the movie starts.

Once the lights dim, people are instructed to write their order on a provided piece of paper and stand it up on the tables clip so that servers can effortlessly swipe the paper and send it off to the kitchen.

Perry senior and Alamo server Nick Morales highlights the working environment as his favorite part of the entire experience.

“The best part about working at the Alamo is all of the employees by far,” Morales said.

With the help of chef Nate Miller, the Alamo has created a diverse menu to satisfy everyone. Dodd describes the menu assortment as “American pub food that we take pride in because we want to use high quality ingredients”.

Compared to other dine-in cinema brands like Harkins or iPic, this theater aspires to put the movie first. “The presentation of the movie from the on-screen visual to the sound inside the theater is all about preserving the movie experience” Dodd illustrates. The company even screens independent films on top of the big films and all of them come without the typical pre-show advertisements.

Be sure to check out the films that are being screened at the newly opened Alamo Drafthouse at Chandler Crossings.