Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Kansas City, Missouri)

 theatre, bar, cinema, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, 1921_construction, historical building

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The Mainstreet Theater is part of the Power & Light District in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The 90,000 sq ft (8,400 sq m) theater, designed by Rapp & Rapp, opened in October 30, 1921 as the Mainstreet Missouri. Originally having 3,200 seats, it was a popular vaudeville and movie palace. The exterior facade is a blend of Neoclassical and French Second Empire. The lobby is topped by a dome with circular windows. In April 1941, the name was changed to the RKO Missouri Theater.

In 1960, it was renamed the Empire Theater in 1960 after being bought by Durwood Theatres and capacity was reduced to 1,260. In 1967, a second theater was built in the former balcony of the original theater. In 1980, AMC Theatres converted the building into 4 theaters, being named the Empire 4 Theaters. The building closed in 1985 and was left vacant and deteriorating for the next two decades.

The Mainstreet Theater was renovated and restored from 2006 to 2009 at a cost of $30,000,000. The building, now named the Alamo Drafthouse, has six auditoriums on two floors. The lobby has a restaurant named The Marquee.

The Mainstreet Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 15, 2007.