Innovative Austin-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the company’s first-ever Florida location and HappyLand Movie Miniature Golf, now open at Mercato in Naples.

On May 10, Collier County District 2 Commissioner Chris Hall, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce COO Scott Costello and local business leaders joined Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to cut the ribbon on the area’s newest location. Guests gathered outside the front entrance for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, held in front of HappyLand’s JURASSIC PARK-themed hole featuring a massive T.rex sculpture.

“Our ribbon cutting ceremony was a fantastic kickoff to our journey here in Naples,” says Alamo Drafthouse Cinema General Manager Brock Cowgill. “We had an incredible turnout for our opening week, and we’re thrilled to see the community embracing our unique blend of cinema and miniature golf. We look forward to becoming a go-to destination for entertainment and leisure in Southwest Florida.”

Located in a 33,652-square-foot space at 9118 Strada Place in Mercato, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s features 11 state-of-the-art auditoriums with more than 650 newly installed luxury recliner seats and 4K digital projection. Each Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has a unique interior theme, and what sets the newest location apart is its golf theme, paying homage to Naples’ deep-rooted love for the sport.

As a nod to Naples’ world-class golf courses, guests can enjoy Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s one-of-a-kind HappyLand Movie Miniature Golf, located in the cinema’s expansive front lobby. This innovative space doubles as a 9-hole mini golf course, full bar, lounge and private event venue, complete with specialty drinks designed to complement the mini golf experience. Guests as young as three can enjoy HappyLand’s nine imaginative holes, each featuring an impressive sculpture inspired by some of our favorite films, including a giant T. rex and a hungry alligator. The lounge and mini golf course are also available to rent for events, parties and screenings, with multiple HDTVs and room for 50 people.

Tickets are on sale now at drafthouse.com where guests can enjoy Alamo Drafthouse’s curated, ad-free pre-show entertainment, signature mix of first-run films and curated specialty programming, an extensive made-from-scratch food and beverage menu, and 100% recliner seating throughout every auditorium. Movie fans can also sign up for Alamo Season Pass, a monthly subscription service that offers unlimited movies, up to one per day, for one killer price. Any Naples guest that joins between April 29 and July 29, 2024, will get their second month free. Full subscription and offer details can be found at https://drafthouse.com/southwest-florida/victory/seasonpass/register.

Like all Alamo Drafthouse Cinema theaters, the new Naples location offers a scratch-made food menu, local beers on draft, and craft cocktails brought to guests in their seats by stealthy servers trained to not disrupt the movie experience. Speaking of not disrupting the movie, the cinema chain’s famed No Talking/No Texting policy ensures guests can watch films free from annoying distractions. Guests are encouraged to arrive up to 30 minutes early to screenings for an ad-free preshow with funny clips, informative video essays, and more. Parking is free and easily accessible at a parking deck located behind the theater.

About Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-seven years later, with 41 locations and counting, Alamo Drafthouse has been called "the best theater in America" by Entertainment Weekly and "the best theater in the world" by Wired. Alamo Drafthouse has built a reputation as a movie lover's oasis not only by combining best-in-class food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star-studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse created Fantastic Fest, a world-renowned genre film festival dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by Variety featuring independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. Alamo Drafthouse continues to expand its brand in new and exciting ways, including the American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit film archive dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing film, and with several new theaters announced for this year and beyond.

About Mercato

Mercato is a mixed-use destination featuring 450,000 square feet of main-street-style retail, dining, entertainment, Class A office, and luxury residential along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. Mercato is anchored by Nordstrom Rack, ULTA Beauty and Whole Foods Market. In addition, it is home to more than 20 notable restaurants, including The Capital Grille and premier nightclub Blue Martini as well as over 40 prominent retailers such as J. Crew, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide, Sur La Table and Z Gallerie. Conveniently located off US 41 at Vanderbilt Beach Road in the heart of Naples, Mercato is managed and leased by North American Properties Atlanta (NAPA). To learn more, visit ExperienceMercato.com or follow the center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.