COLDWATER - Tom and Susan Magocs wanted to open their drive-in theater.
So the married couple and co-owners of Capri Drive-In Theater implored their business' Facebook followers and anyone who passed by their marquee on West Chicago Road in Coldwater to contact the governor's office on their behalf, to say the business can open safely to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Why do I want to have my drive-in open?" Susan said. "Because it’s going to take you back where you can just remember, 'I can sit here and forget about things that I can’t change.' I’m giving people a night out."
They haven't gotten permission from the state to reopen. According to a statement from governor's office, it "is in constant contact with health and business experts to build a path forward for each industry, and consistent with our executive orders drive-in movie theaters are to remain closed to the public at this time."
On Friday, they plan to open anyhow with showings of "Smokey and the Bandit," "Jurassic Park," "Trolls World Tour" and "Sonic the Hedgehog."
“We’re open," Tom said. "We’ll wait and see what happens.”
Under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive order, theaters are to remain closed until May 28.
However, the Magocs are preparing to open for the weekend using social distancing guidelines.
Capri Drive-In Theater, a family-owned business since 1964, is one of nine drive-in theaters in Michigan. It's a particularly seasonal venture in the Great Lakes state, where drive-in theaters are typically open between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
At one point during the pandemic, the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association said just 10 of its 300-plus members nationally remained open.
On Monday, Wisconsin lifted restrictions on its drive-in theaters. Under its executive order, people at drive-in theaters can only leave their cars to pick up concessions or use the restroom. Theaters cannot offer outdoor seating, and theater staff can offer food delivery to people in their cars.
In New York, the state hardest-hit by the coronavirus with more than 33,000 cases, drive-in theaters can open May 15. Pennsylvania is allowing drive-in theaters to re-open regionally, once counties reach the "yellow" phase of the color-coded reopening plan.
Michigan is currently in stage three of its six-stage MI Safe Start plan: "Flattening." In this stage, the epidemic is no longer increasing and the health system's capacity is sufficient for current needs, and "non-critical businesses that pose lower risk of infection can open with increased safety measures." The next stage is "Improving," when cases, hospitalizations and deaths are clearly declining.
Capri Drive-In Theater has two screens and a capacity to hold up to 750 vehicles. The Magocs say customers must remain in their cars, and bathrooms will be open but limited to no more than five customers at a time. The snack bar will be open for carry-out only, and orders can be made and delivered through the FanFood app.
Capri Drive-In Theater hosted a Sunday Easter service by the Coldwater Area Ministerial Association, permitted under the executive order. Drive-in manager Michael Magocs, Tom and Susan's son, said he's in discussions to add comedy and music performances at the venue, as it looks to diversify and make up for lost revenue.
"We’ve already been shorted two months, so we hope we can play catch-up," Susan said. "And the theater can be used for other things so we can catch up and store those nuts for the winter again."
A pop-up drive-in theater was to open at Canterbury Village before the city and state reportedly shut it down and postponed the opening. The Hi-Way Drive-In in Carsonville has reportedly been open at half capacity since May 1.
The Magocs cite what they feel are inconsistencies in executive order, noting that Short's drive-in root beer stand just down the road in Coldwater is deemed essential and permitted to be open, despite offering essentially the same services and risks of exposure. Susan appeared on a Fox News segment about their petition to re-open.
“How long do we do this? Keep stretching this out?" Susan asked. "I do have common sense and I see what they are allowing other people to do. You guys figure it out. But we’re not so stupid we can’t figure out if you are not being fair. It’s just not consistent."
Ryan Jarvi, press secretary for the Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, said in an April email that "the AG’s office agrees with the Governor’s office that drive-in movie theaters should remain closed at this time. Willful violations of the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order can result in a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each offense, as well as licensing penalties for businesses and other entities. Violations should be reported to law enforcement agencies overseeing the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense occurred.“
Tom Magocs said he has spoken with local authorities from the Branch County Health Department and Sheriff's Office about opening, and "they don't have a problem." He's also optimistic that a lawsuit by Republican legislators over Whitmer's use of emergency powers will result in the executive orders being declared invalid.
“I called the authorities and they’re not going to harass us," he said. "Hopefully, come 5 o’clock this Friday, (Whitmer's) order is going to be null and void. Hopefully. We’ll see. We’re going to open."
Nick Buckley can be reached at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley
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May 13, 2020 at 05:30AM
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Owners of Coldwater's Capri Drive-In Theater: 'We're open' - Battle Creek Enquirer
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