Business up at drive-in movie theaters during down economy
NEWBERG, Ore. -- At the 99W Drive In Theater, for seven bucks you don't just catch one movie, you get two.
"This will be our third week, and a lot of people who came the first week came the second week," said Brian Francis, who has run the drive-in for the last two decades. "They got the habit early."
Drive-in theaters are seeing a comeback when it comes to folks wanting to catch the latest flicks.
There are only four drive-ins left in Oregon now. Over the years, many owners called a wrap on business.
Drive-ins may be catching a second wind thanks in part to the down economy.
"We come here every year," said Jeff Brocklay from Sherwood, Ore. "It's a fun place for the kids. They get to run around."
It's a similar response in Dallas at the Motor Vu Drive In. Manager Jeff Mexico took it over last year. He charges nearly twenty bucks for a car load of up to eight people.
"Last summer was our first season and we saw an increase that summer," Mexico said. "This year, we opened three weeks ago and we've already seen a bigger increase from this year to last year."
The other two operating drive-ins in Oregon are in La Grande and Milton Freewater in eastern Oregon.
"This will be our third week, and a lot of people who came the first week came the second week," said Brian Francis, who has run the drive-in for the last two decades. "They got the habit early."
Drive-in theaters are seeing a comeback when it comes to folks wanting to catch the latest flicks.
There are only four drive-ins left in Oregon now. Over the years, many owners called a wrap on business.
Drive-ins may be catching a second wind thanks in part to the down economy.
"We come here every year," said Jeff Brocklay from Sherwood, Ore. "It's a fun place for the kids. They get to run around."
It's a similar response in Dallas at the Motor Vu Drive In. Manager Jeff Mexico took it over last year. He charges nearly twenty bucks for a car load of up to eight people.
"Last summer was our first season and we saw an increase that summer," Mexico said. "This year, we opened three weeks ago and we've already seen a bigger increase from this year to last year."
The other two operating drive-ins in Oregon are in La Grande and Milton Freewater in eastern Oregon.
