We at Laemmle Theatres are proud to announce that we have reacquired the Laemmle NoHo 7, restoring the theater to family ownership and reaffirming our long-standing commitment to showcasing independent, foreign, and arthouse cinema throughout Los Angeles.

Though we were fortunate enough to continue operating the NoHo 7 throughout its sale and subsequent ownership transition (something many moviegoers may not have even realized), this moment marks our renewed investment in a theater that has remained an active and cherished part of our local circuit.

While navigating the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty loomed over the exhibition industry as a whole, we made the difficult decision to sell the property. At the time, with theaters shuttered and recovery far from guaranteed, the move felt necessary to stabilize operations and protect the company’s future.

“We were under immense pressure to reduce debt and preserve equity… There was no relief in sight,” said Greg Laemmle, Owner and President of Laemmle Theatres, while reflecting on the original sale. “As much as I hated to let [the NoHo 7] go, at the time it felt like the only way to keep the business afloat. Thankfully, it was a risk that seems to have paid off.”

In the years since, the site’s new owners explored various redevelopment plans, even securing approvals for a mixed-use residential and retail project. Meanwhile, we continued operating the theater on a short-term basis, often without much clarity beyond a couple of months at a time. “It was a precarious stretch for sure,” admitted general manager Guy Valdez. “I’m definitely looking forward to not having to wonder whether someone might step in and pull the plug on us.”

Late last year, following the sale of our Claremont location, we began exploring opportunities to reinvest in a new property. Around that same time, discussions with the NoHo 7’s ownership resumed. While it wasn’t immediately clear that a deal could be reached, momentum built quickly until by early March 2026 we had finalized an agreement to bring the theater back into the Laemmle family—or ‘faemmle’, as we like to say.

“This reacquisition represents more than a real estate transaction,” Laemmle went on. “It’s a reaffirmation of purpose. With ownership comes stability, and with stability comes the ability to plan ahead: to book films with confidence, to host festivals and special screenings, and to deepen our ties to the filmmaking community and audiences alike.”

“Most immediately, it is great knowing that we are back in control, and that we can commit to films, screenings, and festivals beyond just a 60-day window,” added Senior Vice President Jay Reisbaum. “Our commitment to NoHo is rooted in a long-standing belief in the neighborhood itself. The theater’s proximity to the North Hollywood Metro station makes it one of the most accessible venues in our circuit, and we’ve long seen the neighborhood’s lofty potential as a cultural hub. So while the district is still finding its footing post-pandemic, we remain optimistic about its future and are excited to continue growing alongside it.”

For the real-life family behind this long-enduring family business, this moment also carries a deeper emotional significance in the wake of patriarch Robert Laemmle’s passing in January 2025. A lifelong champion of independent and international cinema and predecessor to his son Greg at the company’s helm, Bob helped shape Laemmle Theatres into one of the most respected exhibition platforms of its kind. Reacquiring the NoHo 7 is, in many ways, a tribute to that legacy, a commitment to ensuring that filmmakers have a place to share their work, and audiences a place to discover it.

Looking ahead, our focus is simple. There are no plans to redevelop the site or change its purpose. The NoHo 7 will remain what it has always aimed to be: a home for movies that might not otherwise have one. With your support, we believe the NoHo 7 can continue to be a vibrant destination for independent film in Los Angeles and a cornerstone of the NoHo Arts District’s ongoing renaissance.

“We will be showing movies,” Laemmle put it best. “That’s what Laemmles do.”