May 31, 2020 Your Neighborhood — Your News®
LOCAL
CL ASSIFIEDS
PA GE 7
‘A SHOT IN THE DARK’
Astoria diner transforms parking lot to a drive-in movie theater to stay afl oat during pandemic
BY JACOB KAYE
To deal with the demands
of social distancing amid the
COIVD-19 pandemic, an Astoria
diner is looking to the 1950s for
inspiration.
Bel Aire Diner, located at 31-91
21st St., used its vacant parking
lot to start a drive-in movie theater
earlier this month and shows
two features a day. The diner’s
owner said the reception has been
great.
“We didn’t imagine it would
be this big,” said Kal Dellaportas,
who’s family began running the
diner in 1996. “Tickets sell out in
a minute. Ninety tickets in one
minute. It’s crazy.”
At the beginning of the COVID-
19 pandemic, Dellaportas began
brainstorming with the diner’s
manager, trying to find creative
solutions to stay in business. His
manager suggested they use the
vacant parking lot for a drive-in
theater.
“It was basically just an idea,
a shot in the dark,” Dellaportas
said. “We ran with it.”
The diner rented an inflatable
screen and worked with a company
to secure licensing rights to
show films. They also implemented
social distancing guidelines,
instructing movie-goers to keep
their windows closed. By May 7,
they were up and running.
Tickets sell for $32 per car,
but despite the high demand, Dellaportas
says he doesn’t make a
dime off the ticket sales. The profits
either go towards operational
costs – Dellaportas has been able
to retain more staff members as a
result of the theater – or charity.
In addition to screening films
for the local police precinct and
donating breakfast meals to the
senior center across the street, Bel
Aire is hosting Elmhurst Hospital
healthcare workers on Tuesday,
May 26, for a special screening of
“The Princess Bride,” in collaboration
with Queens Together.
Despite the high demand and
the warm reception from the
public, Dellaportas said nothing
beats a fully open and operational
diner.
“We’re a 160-seat restaurant.
On a Saturday or Sunday,
we’re turning over tables constantly,
Photo via Instagram/belairediner.
ever 45 minutes to an
hour,” Dellaportas said. “With
the movie, it’s great, we get a
100 people. But it’s 100 people in
three hours.”
When the pandemic clears,
Dellaportas said, he’ll definitely
consider keeping the drive-in
movies going. He’s unsure what
the licensing options may be once
movie theaters open back up, but
if it’s possible to do, he’d like to
continue the events.
“If it’s viable and there’s demand,
we’ll absolutely do it,”
Dellaportas said.
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