Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Tim and Karrie League (2023)

In this episode of How I Built This, Tim and Carrie League share the incredible story behind Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, a unique movie theater chain that serves food and drinks during screenings. The couple began their journey in the movie theater business by opening a small venue in Bakersfield, California, where they faced immense challenges due to the theater's location and the difficulties of combining dining and movie experiences. After relocating to Austin, they found greater success by focusing on creating memorable experiences for their customers, which included themed events and innovative programming.

The conversation dives into their entrepreneurial journey, detailing not only the highs and lows of operating Alamo Drafthouse, but also the impacts of COVID-19, which forced the closure of their theaters and led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Throughout it all, they stress the importance of community, their shared experiences, the roles of hard work and luck, and the evolution of the cinema industry, especially in the wake of the pandemic. They remain optimistic about the future of movie-going, emphasizing the value of shared experiences over streaming at home. The episode concludes with updates on Tim and Carrie’s current endeavors following their departure from Alamo, including Tim's new cinema concept in New York.