The struggling Inwood Theatre’s history has been filled with plenty of drama and a few plot twists. But the beloved spot, which opened in Inwood Village in 1947, has been given a reprieve with a new lease commitment and some ongoing upgrades.
After declining attendance in the 1960s–70s, a fire in the early ’80s that led to a temporary closure, and the addition of a third auditorium from the old balcony, the theater’s owners added a full bar in the lobby to attract a more adult crowd and boost business.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules at the time prohibited liquor sales inside movie theaters, so the design created the Inwood Lounge with a separate street entrance and a glass-block partition separating it from the theater lobby.
Landmark Theatres acquired the property around 1984 and renovated it further. A 2005 refurbishment updated the theater; 2008 improvements added a private bar inside the new “living room” auditorium with couch seating.
Landmark has faced lease issues (including a brief 2024 lockout for default), but in mid-2026 it secured a new three-year lease and it is now investing in upgrades such as seating and finishes.
Cohen Media Group, which was founded by real estate developer Charles Cohen, purchased Landmark in 2018. Despite a 2024–2025 foreclosure auction process tied to Cohen’s debts (in which Landmark drew no bids and continued operating), Landmark/Cohen Media Group is the ongoing operator/owner of the theater business, while L&B Realty Advisors owns the Inwood Village shopping center (and thus the underlying real estate).
“They’ve struggled, as all the theaters have post COVID,” said Corinne Hoffman, vice president of L&B Realty Advisors. “It’s not a very lucrative business today, as you can imagine.”
With around 15 years since the last interior renovation, Hoffman stressed the need for capital investment during negotiations with Landmark.
“I said, ‘we can only continue if you’re willing to continue to reinvest,’” she recalled. “You’ve got to do something about these chairs. You’ve got to clean it up on the inside.’”
So, new reclining seats are replacing the couches, LED screens will replace the old poster cases out front, and there is talk of restoring the entrance terrazzo floor.
“I’m overjoyed to hear that the Inwood has received something other than a stay of execution,” commented longtime film & television critic/author Matt Zoller Seitz, who worked at the Inwood while he attended SMU. “That particular neighborhood of Dallas is prime territory for a movie theater with a bit more of an edge and a vision, because they pretty much abdicated the old identity a long time ago and the absence is keenly felt. My fantasy is that they reintegrate the theater and the old Inwood Lounge and make one of their three auditoriums 35mm capable. The younger film buffs are drawn to old-fashioned analog projection, and theaters that cater to that interest and also serve alcohol can do very, very well.”
Neighbors and old fans of the Inwood Theatre can put their money where their mouths are and help make it thrive.
“They’re saying they’re committed to making improvements, slowly,” noted Hoffman. “Each year is tied to some initial capital investment that they plan on making, which I think will — for the neighborhood, as they see some changes — hopefully bring them back.”
Author
Josh Hickman
Josh Hickman is a national award-winning journalist, visual artist, sometime musician, and author of seven books. His writing For People Newspapers often focuses on arts & culture, local small businesses, local history & government, and interesting personal stories. His paintings include a commission for Dallas County and a donation to Parkland Memorial Hospital.
