Drive-in movie theater coming to 6 Corners for one night
by BRIAN NADIG
A former bank parking lot at 3930 N. Milwaukee Ave. will be turned into a drive-in movie theater from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.
The Six Corners Association will be showing the 1985 classic “Goonies,” which tells the story about a group of children who search for lost pirate’s treasure in an effort to save their homes from demolition. Over the years the movie has developed a cult following.
Association executive director Kelli Wefenstette said that the association’s Promotions Committee has been trying to come up with creative and unusual ways to engage residents, including a recent “yoga in the street” event and an outdoor bluegrass performance in the shopping district. All of these events are intended to promote the association’s “coming back to Six Corners” theme, she said.
The lot can hold up to 200 cars for the movie, and several dozen tickets were sold within the first couple days of the announcement, Wefenstette said. Attendees will be able to listen to the movie via the radio inside their vehicle, she said.
The association is unaware of another commercial district in the city hosting a similar type of drive-in theater event, Wefenstette said. “There really hasn’t been a precedence for this in the city so far. The company we’re using has done this in the suburbs,” she said.
In addition, those without a car will be welcome to watch the movie, Wefenstette said. “We’ll also have a designated area for pedestrians to bring a lawn chair or blanket and sit in front of the (25-foot) screen. They’ll be two speakers,” she said.
The parking lot is owned by Clark Street Real Estate, which has not announced development plans for the site. Clark Street is the developer of a planned retail project at 4747 W. Irving Park Road which will include an Aldi’s grocery store and a Dress for Less clothing store.
Refreshments will not be sold during the movie, but Alderman John Arena (45th) plans to pass out popcorn, Wefenstette said.
Tickets are $30 per car, which includes all of its occupants, and $15 per person ($5 for those under age 12) for walk-ins. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com.
