Beer on tap, free video rentals: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to open first NC location

The franchise will open an 11-screen theater, bar and restaurant at 2116 New Bern Ave. on April 26. The theater was built inside what used to be an old Winn-Dixie supermarket.

The lobby itself is like walking into a vintage video store, which is exactly what they were going for. The space is known as Alamo's Video Vortex, the franchise's re-imagining of a video rental store. Alamo is launching the concept in Raleigh. Video Vortex has more than 30,000 titles on DVD, Blu-ray and VHS. There is a large selection of rare VHS tapes that are not available in digital formats. VCRs, complete with HDMI to RCA adapters, will also be available for rental. Guests are allowed up to two free video (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS) rentals per day.

“This collection of over 75,000 titles includes the best, worst and weirdest of cinema from dozens of countries across the globe, including hundreds of complete catalogs of film’s greatest auteurs. Whether you’re an action junky, a horror-hound, a Francophile or in search of some insane oddities, Video Vortex will offer you an unparalleled selection, for free," Video Vortex manager Kat Shuchter said.

The lobby also features movie-themed board games and apparel.

The theaters themselves are outfitted to run 35mm films and films shot in 4K Laser, including the upcoming "Avengers" film.

The bar, located in the lobby, has 48 taps with about 80 percent of the selections local. And if you like what you taste, you can bring it home. The bar has a machine which allows them to can draft selections for customers. There is also a grab-and-go selection of bombers and six-packs of local and hard to find beers.

Like other movie tavern concepts, Alamo offers in-seat food and drinks, delivered during the show. Patrons just fill out a card at their reclining seats and place it upright in a box on their tray. Servers are trained to look for those cards throughout the film.

Food selections include everything from avocado toast and fried pickles to meatballs and salads. Look for some local companies to also be featured, like Cary's Tribucha, whose "Flowers of Life" Kombucha is served on draft and Brood Sodas from Durham.

Also be on the lookout for the company's freshly make milkshakes (some are spiked!) including the Mayberry RFD, which contains blueberry pie and North Carolina's own Cheerwine.

The theater also has two strict rules that put the focus on the audience:

1. Alamo doesn't show commercials or ads before the lights go down. "Instead of ads or mind-numbing content named after the number of minutes you have to sit through if you get to the theater early, we create custom pre-shows with content themed to most of the features we program," according to Alamo's website. The clips can include selections from old movies.

2. Don't think about using your phone during a movie. The theater boasts zero-tolerance for cellphone use and even used an angry customer's voicemail as the basis for a public service announcement to warn others that the theater will kick someone out for breaking the rule. The company also runs Public Service Announcements features celebs reminding you to not use your phone during the film. Guests get one warning and then they are kicked out, so take the rule seriously.