Staple's public relations director, we can only assume after many evil stares and vitriolic Internet commentary, breached company policy today and wrote a letter to the Houston Chronicle indicating that the office-supply chain had no further interest in the vacant Alabama Theater.

She confirmed that Weingarten Realty had the plans drawn up for near-total interior demolition in an attempt to entice the retailer, who reciprocated the interest.

But no more. PR Director Amy Shanler says "we understand that this property represents a unique situation of local concern," and that Staples is now "pursuing other opportunities in the area."

Preservationists, breathe a timid sigh of relief. Here's hoping Alamo Drafthouse, the community-favorite potential tenant, is committed to preserving the theater.

They seem to be. Aaron Herridge, creator of the Facebook group promoting Alamo's expansion to the Alabama, told CultureMap that he met with a partner in the company (Triple Tap Ventures) that owns Alamo's Houston locations.

Triple Tap Ventures' Neil Michaelsen told Herridge: "We want to save the Alabama Theater; we're committed to preserving as much of the building as possible."