The Alamo Drafthouse will expand to two new Houston locations in 2013, one in Midtown, the other in northwest Houston, the growing Austin-based company announced today.

The much-loved chain, which features an eclectic schedule of films in theaters that have table food-and-drink service, already operates two Houston-area locations. One is in West Oaks Mall. The other is in Katy.

The Drafthouse experience is so contagious that Quentin Tarantino, a frequent visitor to Austin and the original Drafthouse, reporetedly had a replica of the original Drafthouse built into his Los Angeles home.

Rumors that the theater chain was scouting inner-loop locations have been circulating for at least two years. Now it finally is happening, though the northwest Houston will be first.

Slated to open in early 2013, the northwest Houston theater will be located in the Vintage Park Shopping Village off of Tomball Parkway 249 and Louetta Road.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Midtown will be located at 2901 Louisiana St. Both theaters will have digital projection and sound. The Midtown theater also will have a lobby bar that will be visible from Milan Street and that theater spokesmen say will boast panoramic views of the skyline. The theater will be located at the top of a three-floor parking garage.

“The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Midtown will no doubt be the epicenter for moviegoing entertainment for the 700,000 plus residents living within 15 minutes of the new theater and a must-visit destination for those located around the Houston area,” said Neil Michaelsen, president of Triple Tap Ventures, which owns and operates the Houston Drafthouse locations.

Michaelson also said the Midtown theater would have strong relationships with inner-loop organizations such as Aurora Picture Show, the Downtown Management District, Market Square Park, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and Whole Foods.