It’s been shuttered for two years, but look for the historic River Oaks Theatre to come roaring back.

The parent company of Houston-based Star Cinema Grill is preparing to begin a $5 million renovation. The 17,000 square foot theater is expected to reopen by the end of 2023 and when it does, there will be a full kitchen offering in-theatre dining plus wine and cocktails. Culinary Khancepts is handling the makeover. They’ve hired Gensler for design work and Star Commercial Construction Group as the builder.

Culinary Khancepts acquired the lease for the theater from Kimco, which owns the River Oaks Shopping Center. River Oaks Theatre, which was previously operated by Los Angeles-based Landmark Theatres, closed in March 2021 after failing to reach a deal with the former landlord.

The theater was built in 1939 by the now-defunct Interstate Theatre Corp.