This week, news emerged about the historic Clay Theatre on upper Fillmore Street, which has remained dark since early 2020.
Concerns have lingered over the fate of the 112-year-old facility, especially as rumors circulated regarding its potential demolition in favor of a luxury development conceptualized by a lone affluent developer.
After Landmark Theatres, which previously operated several cinemas in San Francisco, concluded its management of the Clay, the theater’s future became increasingly uncertain.
In its final years, the Clay was noted for its iconic midnight screenings of cult classics such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room, concluding operations in January 2020 with a showing of Rocky Horror.
Early in 2024, it was revealed that the Clay Theatre, along with several properties on Fillmore Street between Pine and Clay, had been acquired by an anonymous buyer who was later identified as billionaire venture capitalist Neil Mehta.
Mehta has made limited public statements concerning his plans for the two-block stretch of Fillmore, but he did express a desire to transform the Clay into “a high-end theater and hospitality concept” in a statement from last spring.
Recent reports from The New Fillmore indicate that plans for the Clay are gradually taking form, and an operator has been chosen.
Ted Gerike, the founder of the Los Angeles cinema-bookstore Now Instant, and currently the director of digital content for New York’s indie cinema Metrograph, will spearhead the programming at the Clay.
It appears that Metrograph could serve as a blueprint for the upscale model that Mehta envisions, focused on art-house films, historic Hollywood cinema, and complete with an in-house dining offering.
Gerike envisions the Clay as a venue fostering local voices while connecting San Francisco audiences to the broader world of cinema and ideas.
Cody Allen, director of the Mehta-funded Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project, expressed enthusiasm about Gerike, saying, “Ted Gerike is exactly the type of operator we are eager to see thrive on Fillmore Street,” and highlighted that his plans reflect the broader vision for the area.
Reported plans include hosting 500 film screenings each year, with capabilities for both 4K digital and analog 35mm projection, alongside a renovated theater boasting around 200 seats.
To aid in the renovation of the historic venue, preservation architects from Page & Turnbull have been enlisted.
The programming at the Clay is expected to feature an array of offerings including first-run premieres, repertory classics, filmmaker discussions, and other cinema-centered events.
Additionally, Allen mentioned that the larger project aims to “support unique and experiential small business entrepreneurs who will bring something new and special to the neighborhood we live in and love.”
With Mehta’s significant investment already flowing into the acquisition of several properties, there is potential for revitalization in the area.
However, Mehta’s broader intentions have been met with skepticism, particularly when businesses, including the long-established Mediterranean restaurant La Mediterranee, faced potential eviction.
Fortunately, La Med received a four-year lease extension, alleviating immediate concerns.
Mehta discussed his motivations during an investment podcast in April, candidly admitting that this venture carries a vanity project aspect and is not aimed at generating financial returns.
He conveyed a perspective of nostalgia on the state of San Francisco, suggesting that the area was in decline and that he felt compelled to improve his local environment, claiming, “this was one part of my little corner of the world, [and I am] starting to invest and make it better.”
While many might argue that the upscale stretch of Upper Fillmore doesn’t necessitate revitalization, Mehta believes there’s room for enhancement.
He expressed a desire to achieve beauty in the streets of Fillmore, hoping it could lead to similar efforts throughout other parts of the city, ultimately producing a more family-friendly urban environment.
For film enthusiasts, the prospect of an art-house cinema in the neighborhood, especially after a decade marked by the shuttering of many San Francisco theaters, is seen as promising.
As renovations and plans for the Clay Theatre unfold, details regarding construction timelines remain vague, signaling that this revitalization process is still in its nascent phase.
image source from：https://sfist.com/2025/06/11/clay-theater-to-be-restored-and-revived-as-moviehouse-amid-billionaires-upper-fillmore-revamp/
