San Antonio, TX, August 5, 2025 — Santikos Entertainment, a storied San Antonio-based theater chain known for merging entertainment and philanthropy, has announced plans for a transformative new development on the city’s far North Side. The project, named Trinity Oaks, will span nearly 33 acres and aims to redefine mixed-use developments in the area by blending cinema, retail, housing, and possibly hospitality into a single destination.
Anchoring the development will be a state-of-the-art 60,120-square-foot movie theater, one of the largest in the Santikos portfolio. This new venue is expected to feature 10 to 12 screens, including two premium AVX auditoriums offering large-format screens, luxury seating, and immersive sound technology. Beyond traditional moviegoing, the theater will include enhanced amenities such as a sports bar with stadium seating, arcade gaming, and bowling lanes—expanding the entertainment footprint well beyond film. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026 with completion targeted for late 2027.
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In addition to the flagship theater, the Trinity Oaks development will include multifamily housing, retail outlets, dining options, and potentially hotel accommodations. One confirmed restaurant tenant is Willie’s Grill & Icehouse, a Texas-based casual dining chain known for its family-friendly atmosphere and Southern comfort food. Site plans reveal seven pad sites surrounding the theater, an expansive 14.4-acre parcel designated for residential apartments, and a standalone 8,070-square-foot retail space. Although discussions for hotel space remain preliminary, Santikos executives have expressed strong interest in incorporating a hospitality element, further positioning Trinity Oaks as a regional attraction.
The site carries a current valuation of $5.4 million according to the Bexar Appraisal District, a testament to the area’s rapid growth. Santikos began acquiring the land in phases starting in 2014, with the final parcel purchased shortly before the passing of company founder John Santikos. The project reflects the late founder’s vision of using theater venues as anchors for broader community developments—a model that has defined the company’s growth strategy for decades. Under the leadership of CEO Blake Hastings, Santikos Entertainment is extending that legacy with modern enhancements tailored to today’s consumers.
Trinity Oaks marks a significant step in Santikos Entertainment’s continued expansion. The company currently operates 10 theaters across the San Antonio metro area and, in 2023, made a strategic leap into new markets by acquiring 17 theaters across the Southeastern United States. This acquisition marked a new chapter in the company’s evolution from a local institution to a regional entertainment powerhouse.
At a broader level, the announcement reflects a continued trend in Texas urban planning where developers are creating lifestyle destinations that combine living, leisure, and retail. With San Antonio’s population steadily growing—especially along the northern corridor—projects like Trinity Oaks cater to demand for integrated developments that offer both convenience and experience. Hastings emphasized that the new complex is designed not just for moviegoers but for entire families seeking a variety of entertainment and dining options in one location.
Simultaneously, another major Texas-based enterprise is expanding its influence through financial infrastructure. Atlas Energy Solutions, a prominent energy logistics and services provider headquartered in Austin, announced that it has joined the newly launched NYSE Texas as a founding member. The exchange, headquartered in Dallas, is designed to support the trading of companies with strong regional ties, while operating as a fully electronic platform.
Though Atlas will retain its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AESI, the dual listing reflects the company’s commitment to local capital markets. Atlas CEO John Turner noted that the move reinforces the company’s identity as a Texas-rooted firm deeply integrated into the state’s economic ecosystem. NYSE Texas executives praised Atlas’s inclusion as a major boost to the fledgling exchange, citing the company’s scale and operational success.
Atlas Energy has made headlines in recent months for infrastructure projects that are reshaping the oil and gas supply chain in the Permian Basin. In January 2025, the company launched the Dune Express, a $400 million, 42-mile-long electric conveyor belt that transports industrial sand—also known as proppant—from Kermit, Texas to a rail terminal in Lea County, New Mexico. Capable of moving 13 million tons of sand annually, the Dune Express significantly reduces trucking traffic, lowers emissions, and improves logistical efficiency. The innovation positions Atlas as a forward-looking operator in a sector traditionally known for slower adaptation to green technologies.
Despite some financial challenges earlier in the year—including a 44% dip in stock price due to high capital expenditures and lower-than-expected earnings—analysts remain confident in the company’s long-term trajectory. Firms like Piper Sandler continue to rate the stock as “Overweight,” citing future gains from operational efficiency, expanding production capacity, and the integration of autonomous trucking in its logistics network.
These two developments—Santikos’ investment in experiential real estate and Atlas’s expansion into regional financial markets—underscore a larger trend across Texas. The state continues to attract investment and innovation across multiple sectors, reinforcing its status as an economic engine of the United States. From entertainment to energy, and from real estate to finance, Texas-based companies are increasingly shaping the national narrative in growth and infrastructure development.
As the state positions itself as a hub for innovation, local firms are not only anchoring communities with tangible assets like theaters and conveyor belts but are also participating in the evolution of financial ecosystems that serve regional and national interests.
