There was a record bidding war between Amazon, Netflix and Apple, and Apple won with a $25 million-dollar purchase. "'CODA,' which won best movie, was allowed to play in our theaters for only one week prior to opening on Apple. "It's no secret that independent filmmakers and art films have been hit the hardest during this pandemic, and the art-film dynamic is changing," explained Brooks. Even then, it only operated on the weekends. Like all movie theaters, the Bijou took a big hit during the pandemic, remaining closed for a full year before reopening in late March 2021. In July 2003, the rebranded Bijou made its debut and billed itself as the city’s first full-fledged art-house movie theater. A year later, as part of a business boom in the area, Santikos Entertainment once again took over operations and gave the theater a million-dollar facelift, installing new seats and dining tables. To paraphrase the slogan of the most recent Academy Awards, this was the place where San Antonio movie lovers could unite.īy 2002 though, the auditoriums at the Crossroads Theatre were starting to show their age, and despite a seemingly loyal fanbase, Regal Cinemas decided to close it down. "Singin' in the Rain" to "Rebel Without a Cause". Whatever the case, those six screens below ground level at a mall in Balcones Heights were pretty much the only place in town you could experience any of that.įrom Kurosawa and Kieslowski to Truffaut and Tarkovsky. Perhaps you were an awards show completist who needed to watch every Oscar-nominated animated short film in one sitting. Maybe you wanted to enjoy a classy Sunday taking in the latest Merchant-Ivory production. Maybe you felt like zenning out to a new David Lynch or Terrence Malick film. 1987 grand opening inside Crossroads Mall (a name that was retired in 2010, by the way), the six-screen multiplex quickly got a reputation as San Antonio’s closest thing to an art-house theater, showcasing indie and classic films alongside more mainstream fare. Located inside Wonderland of the Americas Mall, the Bijou helped popularize the in-theater dining trend long before it became the norm, offering concession stand staples like popcorn and soda alongside gourmet burgers, beer and wine. We're also pleased to continue serving the Balcones Heights community with our Santikos Northwest Theater just across the highway, less than 1 mile away from the Bijou." "While we're sad to announce its closing, we're excited for the future of Santikos. "The Bijou theater has been part of the Santikos family since December 1987, and over the past 35 years, it has become revered as our 'Arthouse,'" said Andrew Brooks, Executive Director of Sales & Marketing for Santikos Entertainment. A sign announcing the closure now hangs in front of the shuttered location off Fredericksburg Rd., and all showtimes were recently scrubbed from the Santikos website and app. SAN ANTONIO - Alamo City cinephiles are mourning the loss of a longtime local destination for independent and international cinema on the big screen, as Santikos Entertainment confirms it has permanently closed the Bijou Cinema Bistro.
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