Boutique theater chain The Alamo Drafthouse is giving its Richardson location a set of dramatic renovations starting in late January, marking the first significant upgrade to the theater since it opened in Richardson's CORE District in 2013.

According to a release from The City of Richardson and Alamo Drafthouse, the upgrades, which are being paid for by both the theater chain and the city, will bring a "cutting-edge cinematic experience," while preserving the Alamo's unique charm.

A spokesperson says that the updates will include luxury recliner seating throughout every auditorium, new carpet and wallpaper, and updating decor with new vintage posters in the lobby and hallways. The theater will remain open during the renovations with no impact on moviegoers as reseating auditoriums will be staggered. New seats are reportedly being delivered next week.

Movie theater design has surely come a long way in the past decade, including the current trend toward large plush recliner-style seating with individual tables — as opposed to the prior style the Alamo in Richardson still has with regular seats and long tables that extend across the entire row.

The Richardson location was the first Alamo Drafthouse to open in the Dallas-area, taking the place of an old Pep Boys auto parts store. The location holds historic community significance, as it is within the community’s first shopping center, constructed in the 1950s following the expansion of Central Expressway into the Richardson City limits.

The CORE District includes the Chinatown, Downtown, Heights, Interurban and Lockwood neighborhoods and is a thriving entertainment and cultural center.

Richardson Mayor Bob Dubey says in a statement that its debut inspired a rejuvenation of the neighborhood, as Richardson Heights has seen a number of restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options open in the years since.

"In 2012, we specifically sought Alamo Drafthouse to serve as an anchor destination for the Richardson Heights neighborhood because we knew it would provide a unique cinematic experience that would serve as a catalyst to revitalize the entire area,” Dubey says.

This was also Alamo's entry into the DFW market, notes Alamo Drafthouse Cinema North Texas & Twin Cities CEO Bill DiGaetano. The chain has since opened locations in Lake Highlands, the Cedars District, Las Colinas, and Denton.

“Richardson was the first theater we ever opened in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the community that has built up around it is truly incredible,” DiGaetano says. “We want our guests to have the amazing cinema experience that they deserve, and with these upgrades I think we’re on the right track.”