Wethersfield approves drive-in movie theater plan

The town of Wethersfield has unanimously approved a local businessman’s plan to open a drive-in movie theater in town.

The Planning and Zoning Commission gave the greenlight Tuesday night to Chris Henney, owner of Wethersfield’s River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, to open a temporary drive-in movie theater at the 600-space parking lot he owns near his restaurant at 100 Great Meadow Road in Putnam Park. He also owns the 158,252-square-foot Class A CBS Xerox office building, in which River is a tenant. 

Henney said he wants to use his parking lot as family entertainment space that would allow people to get out of the house, while still maintaining proper social distance.

Drive-in movie theaters, largely entertainment of past generations, have been making a comeback in parts of the country of late, as people look for safe leisure activities outside the home.

It’s not clear how soon the drive-in theater will open. Henney couldn’t be reached for comment on Wednesday but he previously told HBJ he wanted to move quickly to debut it once he gained town approval.

It will be a contactless experience. 

That means tickets will be purchased online and luxury portable toilets will be overseen by staff to ensure patrons maintain proper social distance at all times. Cars will be located six feet apart in case people want to roll down their windows for fresh air.

Henney’s planning and zoning commission application said the theater would accommodate 120 cars with an average of three people per car, equating to about 350 guests per show.

He estimates the need for up to a 40-foot portable and/or inflatable theater screen that can be seen by the 300 or so patrons, who would be able to listen to the movie by dialing in to an FM radio station.

Movies will be shown seven days a week, weather permitting, once the sun goes down.

Henney and his wife Martha built the Xerox building in 1983 but didn’t open their restaurant until 2018. The Italian-style 300-seat eatery has become a popular spot in town with its panoramic views of the Connecticut River, but the business has been hit hard by the shutdown, Henney said.

Henney said he planned to reopen outdoor dining yesterday. People who attend the drive-in movie will also be able to order food from the restaurant, which will be delivered to cars on a no-contact basis.