Sad news for moviegoers in Birmingham. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema—anchor tenant of a proposed redevelopment of the Powell Steam Plant—will no longer be coming to Birmingham. Read on to learn more about the project and why it was canceled.

Powell Steam Plant redevelopment

Powell Avenue Steam Plant — Announcing the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema project in 2022. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

In February 2022, representatives from Orchestra Partners, Alabama Power, the City of Birmingham and other key partners met at the historic Powell Steam Plant to announce the mixed-use development’s anchor tenant: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has received praise as the “#1 theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly and the “Coolest Movie Theater in the World” by Wired.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to the city of Birmingham and to the whole state of Alabama. If you’re not familiar with our brand, we currently operate 37 locations in 13 states throughout the country. Plus, we love historic buildings and we have a real knack for transforming old cool things into super cool new things.”
Chris Drazba, Chief Development Officer of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in a statement at

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema would be the anchor tenant of a massive redevelopment of the Powell Steam Plant, a historic steam plant that provided power to businesses and streetcar lines from its construction in 1895 until the mid-2000s.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema not coming to Birmingham

A rendering of the Powell Avenue Steam Plant redesign, with the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. (Orchestra Partners)

At the time of the announcement, developers planned to begin construction on the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Summer 2022, with the goal of opening in Fall 2023. However, construction never began—and the webpage for the Birmingham location was removed from the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s website.

Anthony Cook with Alabama Power Company confirmed the cancelation of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Birmingham location with the following statement about the future of the development.

“Alabama Power and Orchestra Partners have mutually agreed to make changes in Powell Steam Plant’s development team. Both parties remain committed to the City’s growth and long-term success, and we look forward to great things ahead.”
Anthony Cook, Communications Principal, Alabama Power Company

What would you like to see go in the Powell Avenue Steam Plant site? Tag us @bhamnow to share your ideas!