By Asha Ingram

Ben Wintroub of the Sunset District’s Tunnel Records announced he will team up with Adam Bergeron in the Richmond District’s 4 Star Theater. Starting Friday, Oct. 6, Tunnel Records’ merchandise can be also purchased at the theater.

Originally opening its Taraval Street location in 2017, Tunnel Records has been known for selling funky and unique records, merchandise and more. According to its website, the store was opened with a single goal: “To be the perfect neighborhood record store. No pretentiousness, just good vibes ….”

For Bergeron, the operator of the 4 Star, as well as the Balboa and Vogue theaters, a team up like this has long been a dream of his. The merger combines his love of movies and music.

“I always dreamed of there being a record store in the gallery space,” he said. He is a regular at Tunnel Records, which he regards as the “best curated record store in San Francisco.”

“It has the most friendly and knowledgeable staff,” Bergeron said. “The vibe they put out there is second to none.”

So, when the opportunity to team up was presented to him, it seemed too good to pass up.

“When Ben Wintroub mentioned it as a possibility, it just seemed like such a perfect mix.” Bergeron said. “I think they’re pretty like-minded businesses. It’s pretty easy to draw a thread between movie and record businesses.” he explained.

Opening in 1921, the 4 Star closed in March 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions, and shortly thereafter underwent massive renovations. The theater reopened in December 2022 showcasing many changes, such as switching from three theaters to one, expanding the single theater and renovating its lobby. The theater restored its original architecture, bringing back details like vestibule archways and red velvet draping.

Since its reopening, the theater has started to see a change in business.

“It has slowly and steadily gotten better and better,” Bergeron said.

The 4 Star Theater’s newly renovated space has also proven beneficial for the team-up with Tunnel Records. The 4 Star’s second theater has been turned into a gallery space. Bergeron saw that this new space would be a perfect for this exact team-up.

“(The space) is almost just shaped like a record store would be,” he explained. “It’s really going to lend itself to having two parallel businesses there.”

Opening weekend, Friday, Oct. 6, to Tuesday, Oct. 10, is set to have different themes each night, pairing movies and music. Opening night will have a country theme with a record release from local musician Jacob Aranda as well as shows and performances by artist Sarah Bethe Nelson and Noelle and the Deserters. Saturday, Oct. 7, will feature a DJ set from the Sounds of Paradise followed by a showing of Dario Argento’s “Phenomena,” which will be preceded by a drag show performance.

Next, on Sunday, Oct. 8, the theater will have the Wizard of Oz being shown using Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon for sound effects. This classic combination, according to Bergeron, creates a “sublime, eerie pairing between the two,” when done right. This will be followed by the last night’s events on Oct. 10 with a performance from the Edelman Family Jazz Band, which will be playing Thelonious Monk tunes. The final event will be the showing of jazz movies “Monk” and “Monk in Europe.”

Wintroub said his Taraval Street location (named for the pedestrian tunnel that used to be run underneath the Upper Great Highway from Taraval to the beach) is skewed more toward jazz, soul and international music. He said the new Richmond District location will feature local and independent musicians and bands.

“Adam has been a longtime customer of mine and I’ve always really liked him and wanted to work with him,” Wintraub said. “After they took over the 4 Star, they were looking for creative ideas for the side space that was being used as an art gallery. It’s a nice fit for us.”

Bergeron said the theater will continue to have more live music events with the new collaboration.

“It will always be a movie theater first and foremost, but I think we will have more live music than we’ve had in the past,” he predicted. In addition, rock documentaries and movies focused on music will be shown primarily at the 4 Star.

“We really want to lean into the rock and roll movie theater kind of vibe,” he said.

Through this new connection, Bergeron hopes the theater and Tunnel Records will grow together with each other’s help.

“I’m hoping we are able to make each other even better by teaming up in this way,” he said.

The 4 Star Theater is located at 2200 Clement St. Learn more at 4-star-movies.com. Tunnel Records will be accessible through a side door on 23rd Avenue, north of Clement Street. Learn more at tunnelrecordssf.com.