Restaurateurs across Connecticut have been developing creative ways to make money amid the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
Many are trying takeout and delivery services for the first time. But Chris Henney, owner of Wethersfield’s River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, has another unique idea: a drive-in movie theater.
Henney is proposing to set up an outdoor 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.
With restaurant revenues down around 98% — despite offering takeout and curbside pick up — and most of his office tenants working from home, 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.
“There aren’t very many opportunities for people to do anything right now,” Henney said. “I think people in the community would appreciate having the opportunity to get out and have some variety in their lives.”
Henney doesn’t want to be in the drive-in movie business long term. He views this a short-term opportunity while restrictions on how people gather remain in place.
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.
Henney has an application in front of Wethersfield’s planning and zoning commission, which will consider his movie-theater plans during a May 19 meeting.
It’s not clear what type of state restrictions are currently, or might be in place on drive-in theaters. Indoor theaters have been closed since mid-March as they were labeled as non-essential businesses under a Gov. Ned Lamont executive order.
If Henney’s plan is approved, he said he wants to move quickly to open the venue. The concept remains a work in progress but he said it will be a contactless experience.
That means tickets would be purchased online and luxury portable toilets would be overseen by staff to ensure patrons maintain proper social distance at all times. Cars would be located six feet apart in case people want to roll down their windows for fresh air.
Henney said he‘s been in contact with Maryland-based Outdoor Movies, which could supply the portable and/or inflatable theater screen. He estimates the need for up to a 40-foot screen that can be seen by 300 or so patrons (based on each car having about four people).
Patrons would be able to hear the movie by dialing in to an FM radio station. Henney is waiting for town approval before he puts money into his new venture, he said.
Wishing for normal
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.
He’s now planning to open outdoor seating May 20, thanks to Gov. Ned Lamont’s recent announcement that the state can slowly reopen later this month, assuming the increased availability of testing and a continued reduction in hospitalizations and illnesses due to the coronavirus. Normally, River has outdoor seating for 110 patrons, but with social-distancing guidelines Henney will likely only have enough room for 25% to 30% of normal capacity.
The restaurant has approval to open additional outdoor space that could accommodate another 128 seats (during normal times), which it will likely take advantage of in the coming weeks and months, Henney said.
Rules will certainly change for diners, from how they access restrooms to how long they can stay at their table. Henney said he will probably institute a seating time limit — maybe up to 90 minutes or less — to allow as many people as possible to dine at the restaurant.
People who come for a movie would also be able to order food.
And while a drive-in movie theater presents a unique business opportunity, Henney said he’d rather have a fully functioning restaurant and office building.
“I just want things to get back to normal as quickly as possible,” he said.
