First U City Drive-In Movie Night Also Drives Restaurant, Retail Traffic

From the City of University City:

September 18, 2020

University City Loop restaurants and retailers reveled in the burst of sales and street activity resulting from the first in a series of “Love the Loop” Drive-In Movie Nights. The sold-out event on September 12 featured the action-packed film, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and raised $1,000 from ticket sales to benefit the University City Education Foundation-Supplemental Food Drive.

The next Drive-In Movie night will feature “The Princess Bride,” Saturday, September 26, rain or shine. Details and times are posted at www.ExploreUCity.com and tickets may be purchased from Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/121105889977

Drive-In Movie nights are designed to be safe, social-distancing events, with masks required when people leave their cars to pick-up carry-out orders from restaurants and do a little shopping prior to movie time.

Restauranteurs were excited about the success. “It was great for our restaurant to be part of such a fun, family-friendly event taking place again in the Loop,” said Derek Deaver, co-owner of Three Kings Public House. “There was such positive energy with everyone out and about and having a good time.”

“Thanks to the City and The Loop Special Business District for hosting movie night in The Loop. Seeing so many happy people back in The Loop walking up and down Delmar supporting our diverse restaurants with lots of carry-out orders was really great see!” said Michael Alter, owner, Fitz’s Bottling Company.

University City Mayor Terry Crow was thrilled with the turnout. “We wanted to do something special to reconnect our residents with our unique restaurants and retailers while adhering to all social-distancing guidelines and the Drive-In Movie Night seemed like a fun way to do this. Plans are to continue to create special programs and events to help our community thrive as we all move forward,” he said.

The Drive-In Movie event is produced by a collaboration of the Loop Special Business District and University City departments including Planning, Public Works and Police. The group also has been collaborating on an initiative to expand outdoor dining areas, including special “Love the Loop” and “Dine on Delmar” events before the end of September.

This press release was produced by the City of University City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.