Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Santikos Theatres, meaning I was compensated for sharing my thoughts! :)
There's nothing better than home grown, right? And while it's great to see a a brand new state of the art theatre opening up, creating jobs and opportunities for families and friends to gather, it's even better to hear about how Santikos grew locally in San Antonio and how the organization is giving back to the community for many many years to come!
In 1918, Louis Santikos moved from Waco to San Antonio to get into the movie theatre business and within a few years opened the Rialto Theatre on Houston Street and the Palace Theatre across from the Alamo in the early 1920's.
In 1958, Louis' son, John L. Santikos takes over and established Santikos Theatres and made its mark all throughout San Antonio. John L. Santikos passed away in 2014 and his estate donated $605 million dollars to the San Antonio Area Foundation, the single largest charitable contribution in San Antonio, specifically to give back to causes like: people in need, youth, education, healthcare, arts and culture!
Santikos Theatres was then converted to Santikos Entertainment and is now a social enterprise meaning that after the company pays it's bills and puts away a little for capital growth, it gives the rest to the San Antonio Area Foundation to distribute. This year, they are projecting to give $18 million dollars with a goal of eventually giving $20 million dollars back every year! It's crazy to think of numbers that big, but it's real and you have a choice to be a part of this legacy every time you decide to go to a movie!
Almost 100 years ago, Santikos Entertainment newest theatre complex, Casa Blanca is opening and will be the first fully laser digital theater in the world!
It features 16 screens, in-theater dining, full bar service and 16 lanes of bowling!
The largest movies screens in Texas are auditoriums 4 & 5 boasting 90ft with the most walking room in between the aisles, so no knocking over popcorn buckets here!
There's something for everyone and you don't even need a movie ticket to enter! You can have dinner, stop in for just some gelato or bring a group and everyone spend their time how they like!
So as proud a proud San Antonian, there's always a choice. And Santikos is never a bad one!
Be sure to like their pages on Facebook and pick up a game card at the concessions at Casa Blanca, they are giving away over $450,000 in gifts and prizes to celebrate it's Grand Opening! Also, Santikos throughout the city are hosting Free Summer Movies again this summer, every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am!
