Pandemics and lockdowns be damned: The Alamo Drafthouse, the theater chain beloved by cinephiles and theater-experience purists (and almost everyone else) is not only staying alive, they are growing.

In March of this year, the independent theater chain, known for themed screenings and maintaining a smart phone-free moviegoing experience, filed for bankruptcy protection as part of a restructuring agreement that included selling assets to affiliates of Altamont Capital and Fortress Investment Group. The Covid-related slowdown of the theatrical movie business hit this and all cinema chains hard.

Having received new financing to get them through the end of the pandemic, the chain now plans to open five new locations. This includes a 14-screen theater at 28 Liberty in Manhattan, and the previously announced Staten Island theater, which remains in development. Also in the works are separate 9-screen theaters in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Virginia, as well as a new theater in St. Louis, Missouri’s Midtown district.

“We’re so thrilled to be reopening theaters across the country and welcoming back audiences for an unparalleled moviegoing experience with films we’ve been eagerly awaiting for over a year now,” Alamo Drafthouse CEO Shelli Taylor said in a statement.

“We’re so grateful to our incredible partners at Altamont and Fortress, who are completely aligned with our vision for Alamo Drafthouse’s growth. It’s incredibly exciting to be back on that path so we can bring the Alamo Drafthouse experience to new locations around the country, including our very first locations in Manhattan, St. Louis, and D.C.,” Taylor added.

The Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan, D.C., National Landing, and St. Louis locations will feature “a diverse mix of blockbusters, indies, documentaries, foreign language films, repertory classics, and unique special events. Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan will be the home of The Press Room, a brand-new museum, letterpress print shop, bar, and event space and is expected to open this fall.

The Staten Island theater will feature The Flying Guillotine, a martial arts-inspired bar in partnership with Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA. Alamo Drafthouse DC is the company’s first theater to be located in the city proper. It will be a 9-screen theater located at Bryant Street in northeast Washington, DC and expected to open in winter, 2021.

In nearby Arlington, Alamo Drafthouse National Landing will be a 9-screen theater in the Crystal City neighborhood which is planned to open in spring of 2022. Cojeaux Cinemas operates three other Alamo Drafthouse franchises in Virginia.

St. Louis is getting its first Alamo Drafthouse, to be located at the upcoming City Foundry STL development in the city’s Midtown district. Alamo Drafthouse St. Louis will be a 10-screen theater from franchise partner St. Louis Alamo Movies, and is expected to open in spring of 2022.

All four new theaters will feature such luxuries as 4K Barco laser projection, immersive surround sound, and comfortable recliners in all auditoriums. Lower Manhattan and St. Louis will feature 35mm changeover projection, so that both classic films and new releases can be experienced in “glorious celluloid.”

Not only that, but the St. Louis, D.C. and National Landing sites will each feature “The Big Show,” which the company describes as their “next-generation Premium Large Format theater optimized for the enormous 66′ wide x 28′ tall curved screen and transformative Dolby Atmos audio technology for a truly immersive experience.” The statement went on to say that “each of the new locations will also include separate full-service bars featuring craft cocktails, wine, and local craft beers on tap.”

The company also reopened its Los Angeles location to great success this weekend. Though pandemic rules still apply (it has to cap attendance to comply with safety protocols), the venue sold out every showtime for all films throughout the entire holiday weekend.

“This is likely the first time in Alamo Drafthouse history that every single film for every single showtime for a theater has been sold out across a four day period,” said Tim League, the company’s executive chairman. “It’s a powerful testament to our collective desire to come together to experience the magic of the big screen again.”