Rooftop movie theater coming to Kansas City. ‘The ultimate date night’
London, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and soon — Kansas City.
Rooftop Cinema Club is opening its first Kansas City location July 23.
The company will offer panoramic views, snacks, and beloved flicks like “Grease” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
It’ll open at 2101 Broadway Blvd. in the Crossroads and will seat about 80 customers. Up until now, that rooftop space has only been used for events.
Founder and CEO Gerry Cottle Jr., who started the company in London in 2011, called his creation the “ultimate date night,” though groups of friends also frequently enjoy the films.
Spectators are given headphones so they can hear the movie well.
Cottle learned the joy of entertainment from his father, who owned a circus throughout Cottle’s childhood. Cottle himself would perform in the circuses as a clown and juggler.
To him and the senior Cottle, the circus was always more about the people than the performance acts themselves.
“I combined my love of film and my love of entertainment,” he said. “Cinema has been around for a long time. … But I wanted to do it (differently).”
Tickets will go live on the company’s website at rooftopcinemaclub.com on June 25. Costs range from $19 to $30. Ticket cost is affected by seat comfort (a $30 ticket can get you a plush love seat).
Rooftop Cinema Club will also offer some family-friendly movies, musical singalongs and pet-friendly nights (Woof-top Cinema Club, as Cottle calls it).
“I wanted to create something where I could watch my favorite films on the big screen with a beer in my hand,” Cottle said. “The other thing I wanted to do was make it more than a movie.”
Cottle said there will be concessions. He can’t share the menu just yet, but think locally inspired shareables and cocktails. And popcorn, of course — “If I didn’t sell popcorn, I think somebody would probably drop me off the roof,” he joked.
The Crossroads spot will be the company’s 10th location. It has seven existing spots in America and two in London.
When choosing his next spot, Cottle said he took a trip to the Paris of the Plains and fell in love with the area, specifically the Crossroads.
“The city’s got an appetite for unique cultural experiences,” he said. “So we just want to be in the best cities in America, and Kansas City is one of those cities, in my humble opinion.”
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Cottle encouraged customers to come early, socialize, and play board games and corn hole. He hopes it’s an opportunity for movie-goers to mix and mingle.
“The rooftop is about bringing joy to people, bringing escapism, through the power of film,” Cottle said. “Bring a jacket and a desire to have fun. ... We’ll do the rest.”
This story was originally published June 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM.