Tyler Calabrese
Franchise Principal
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
12750 Westport Parkway, LaVista, Neb.

 

While Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is new to Nebraska, (opening Oct. 2015), Franchise Principal Tyler Calabrese and his team are not. The son of former Offutt Air Force Base military parents, Tyler is a Sarpy County native and Papillion South High School graduate who knows the area well, and exactly what his customers want.

 

A beer enthusiast and diehard Husker fan, Tyler is striving to fill what he perceives as a local need to provide family-run restaurants that specialize in quality food and service. A natural entrepreneur, Tyler pursued a partnership with his great uncle, Phil Rafnson of Minneapolis by constantly sending business plans for various restaurant ideas. “For years I sent them to him seeking an investor and kept bugging him and bugging him, finally it worked.” Film joined in the mix when Phil agreed to the partnership, but brought forth the idea of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, realizing the positive impact this venture could bring to Nebraska. “We wanted to open a business that remained attractive throughout. Omaha is an extremely fierce and competitive market for restaurants in and of themselves, so with the cinema supplement of it, it really makes more sense for us.”

 

A strategic partner, Phil brings over 40 years of experience in the cinema technology business and an unparalleled understanding of film. He has worked in a variety of positions, from a sound engineer for RCA Service Co. to President and owner of Media Technology Source, the largest cinema equipment distribution company in the world. “Phil is very well-versed in the industry and he has a lot of connections, so when it comes to setting the standard in Omaha we will be one of the best, if not the best in the market.” With Phil’s seasoned background in cinema and Tyler’s enthusiasm for the restaurant business, the two make a perfect team for this family-owned and operated business.

 

A trip to Austin, TX helped cement the culture behind Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for Tyler, and he was instantly captivated with the idea of creating a new experience in his hometown, with the opportunity to add local Nebraska flavor to the business. “The restaurant concept is one that we created independently, specifically for the Omaha market. We completely reworked their corporate bar concept because I knew it wouldn’t fit here. Our bar and restaurant you won’t see anywhere else.” Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s design is, and will be completely unique to Nebraska with its innovative ability to provide customers with great films, a multi-course menu and everything from Midwest microbrews to handcrafted milkshakes. All are created with local sources, which is a perfect fit for the experience Tyler wants to provide his customers. Not only will the focus be on the food, but theatres will be outfitted with exclusive luxuries like double stacked and 35 mm projectors, “to make sure we are showing the film exactly how it should be shown.” Tyler is devoted to bring back the art of both food and film stating, “True, fulfilling entertainment and hospitality are becoming scarce, we hope to save cinema and surpass the standard in Omaha entertainment.”

 

Tyler is certified by the National Restaurant Association as a Culinary Instructor and ServSafe Food Safety Instructor and Proctor. He attended Metropolitan Community College Institute for Culinary Arts, as well as Bellevue University.