Hooky Entertainment transforming Baytown cinema into 73,000-SF venue with bowling, arcade

September 17, 2025

Hooky Entertainment, a 73,000-square-foot experimental cinema and entertainment venue, is set to debut in Baytown Oct. 3.

The new concept is a rebrand and transformation of the Showbiz Cinemas Baytown location at 10550 Interstate 10 Service Road. It will include a cinema, a bowling alley, arcade, two virtual dart bays, in addition to private event spaces. The cinema has remained open during construction.

The project adds 6,800 square foot of additional space for games and restrooms, according to information filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

EVOke Design + Architecture out of Dallas is the design firm, per the TDLR filing. Huntsville-based Rise Collective LLC is the general contractor of the expansion, according the construction company's Facebook post detailing the project's progress. The Houston Business Journal has reached out to a representative for Hooky to confirm the general contractor.

Hooky President and CEO Charles Tiantawach said he envisions the venue as a place to enjoy quality time with family and friends.

"From emotionally captivating movies to great food and immersive games, there’s something for everyone, and we’re thrilled to bring this all-in-one experience to the Baytown community,” Tiantawach said in a news release.

In addition to the cinema's 10 theaters — including one Imax screen — Hooky's Baytown location also will feature an 8,000-square-foot arcade with classic games and interactive experiences, 14 full-length bowling lanes and an LED TV wall display.

The venue's full-service bar and sharable menu offers options such as Hooky Frito Pie, Dynamite Shrimp and loaded waffle fries. The food menu will also offer staples like chicken tenders, burgers, salads, bowls and more.

The ShowBiz-Hooky backstory

Back in 2022, Austin-based Evo Entertainment Group bought Dallas-based ShowBiz Cinemas for an undisclosed amount. At the time, ShowBiz Cinemas had four Houston-area locations in Baytown, east Houston, Humble and Kingwood.

Earlier this year, Austin-based Elevate Entertainment Group, the parent company of Evo Entertainment, underwent a major transition as it parted ways with its investor and split up the business assets. Elevate kept its Central Texas entertainment ventures, while business partner Es Vedra Cinemas LLC, a venture tied to Tiantawach, kept Showbiz Cinemas and Violet Crown Cinemas.

The Hooky brand debuted in May with the opening of the brand's Hutto location. The new 54,400-square-foot venue was originally slated to be an Evo Entertainment location. Some other Evo locations have been rebranded as Hooky as well.

Hooky now has eight open locations across Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. Half are in the Dallas-Fort-Worth area. It has also planned location in Nashville, Tennessee, per Hooky's website.