Former Hollywood Theaters Site Eyed for Conference Center

New owners and the city of Laredo are in early talks about using part of the former theater property for a conference center.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Commercial

Sunlit plain masonry wall of a low-rise commercial building beside an empty paved lane under a clear sky, with dry scrub beyond. — Early talks between the city of Laredo and new owners of the closed Hollywood Theaters property could bring a long-sought conference center to the Texas border city. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Laredo spend public money to build a new convention center?

The former Hollywood Theaters property in Laredo, Texas, which closed in 2021, has a new owner. Talks between the city and the new owners have just begun and nothing has been finalized.

Why it matters

Laredo does not have a convention center, which the city says causes it to lose conferences to other cities. A convention center could help attract more events to the city.

Two appraisals valued the property at $10.4 million and $11.3 million, and the sale price has not been disclosed. About 20,000 square feet is planned for a conference center, while the remaining 25,000 square feet could be used for retail.

The players

Enjoy Hospitality

Enjoy Hospitality is a company whose portfolio includes hotels and entertainment businesses, and it is in talks with the city of Laredo about a possible conference center.

City of Laredo

The City of Laredo is a municipal government in Laredo, Texas, which lacks a convention center and is discussing one at the former Hollywood Theaters site.

The details

Realtor Hector Alaniz helped sell the property, and the city is discussing a possible conference center there with Enjoy Hospitality, a company whose portfolio includes hotels and entertainment businesses. The city of Laredo previously sold its Civic Center in the downtown area.

The Hollywood Theaters closed in 2021.
Discussions between the city and the new owners were underway as of the November 12, 2026 report.

Commercial Real Estate Shift

Laredo's earlier sale of its downtown Civic Center leaves the city without a convention facility, and the talks over the former Hollywood Theaters property show local officials trying to fill that gap through a private commercial redevelopment.

For Laredo residents, a conference center at the former theater site could mean more conventions and events in town rather than in other cities. Any agreement would still need to be finalized before the project moves forward.

The takeaway

Redevelopment of the former Hollywood Theaters site could bring a long-missing convention space to Laredo. Residents interested in the project can follow city discussions as talks with the new owners continue.