River Oaks Theatre announces long-awaited reopening date

Flashback: Culinary Khancepts, an affiliate of movie theater chain Star Cinema Grill, acquired the lease from the owners of River Oaks Shopping Center in 2022 and began renovations.

Driving the news: The theater got a facelift, featuring new seats in the three auditoriums, screens, and projection and sound systems.

• The theater also will launch a membership program called Cinema Savant, through which guests can catch unlimited film screenings for $20 a month.

The intrigue: The popular midnight showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" are also returning, with screenings Oct. 5 and Oct. 18.

What they're saying: "The project holds a special place in our hearts," Culinary Khancepts president and CEO Omar Khan said in a release. "As the only Houston-owned and -operated cinema chain, and with a deep connection to the city, we were uniquely positioned to preserve this historic theater. … It would have been unthinkable for Houston to lose this beloved arthouse."

Between the lines: Experience-driven movie theaters are making a comeback, with historic venues being preserved in cities including Boston, Chicago and Washington.

What's next: Tickets for the first showings are on sale. "Joker: Folie à Deux" will kick off the opening, though most of those tickets are sold out.

• The first 800 customers on Oct. 3 will receive a custom gold coin, a tradition inspired by the 1900s, when theaters would give the first patron a gift of gold.