Lots of folks got to this one before me, but the news is still good: Sundance Cinemas has confirmed their purchase of the Kabuki Theatre in Japantown. SFist seems to have hit the streets with the news first:

With January’s merger between AMC and Lowes theatres, the company they became, AMC Entertainment Inc, is required by U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys general of California to sell the Kabuki and 1000 Van Ness theatres. While the Van Ness property remains available, today the long-rumored purchase of the Kabuki by Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas was officially announced.

Expected to become “a state-of-the-art independent movie house”, Sundance plans on beginning renovations to the theatre in early May, following the San Francisco Independent Film festival. This fall it’ll reopen as the “Sundance Kabuki” (that has quite a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?), with stadium seating in at least five of the eight auditoriums, larger screens, and booze sold in the mezzanine and balcony levels.

The Reuters piece we read stated that “the company plans on keeping the Japanese-influenced decor in the complex’s largest theater”, which we applaud. Hey, Redford, while you’re at it, bring back the Kabuki disco ball!

Sundance Film fest ponders buying Kabuki [SFHomeBlog]
Sundance Buys Kabuki [Ess-Eff]
City, Japantown leaders welcome deal for multiplex [SFGate]
Sundance Cinemas buys San Francisco theater [Reuters]

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