The Outer Richmond's Balboa Theater joins the Misson's Roxie as independent movie houses seeking beer and wine licenses.
A couple of months back, SFBay reported the Roxie Theater was working to get a beer and wine license in hopes it would attract more patrons and bring in more revenue.
We here at SFBay, of course, think it’s a fantastic idea. Wine night and a movie? We’re in!
The Roxie, though, isn’t the only old school picture house getting in on the action. GrubStreet reported that the Balboa Theater — located in the Outer Richmond — is also working to get its beer and wine license.
One of the few historic movie theaters left in San Francisco, the Balboa Theater has been operating since October of 1926. It switched from a single-screen theater to a multiplex in the 1970s.
The Balboa was owned by the Levin family until 2001, when it was sold to Landmark Theaters co-founder Gary Meyer, who has worked to keep the Balboa open and operational, even in poor economic times.
In addition to receiving support from neighbors and theater enthusiasts, the Balboa also the support of the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the ongoing run of SF’s historic theaters.
As far of the beer and wine license goes, there is no word yet on if the Balboa will start up a campaign like the Roxie has done to raise money for theater upgrades, while still in pursuit of their license.
The Balboa theater hopes to be serving up the hops and vino as soon as this spring.
