WESTVILLE, N.S. – Homegrown grocery giant Sobeys shocked many last month when the company bought Safeway Canada in a $5.8million dollar deal.
That made Sobey’s the second largest grocer in the country.
Just two weeks later, Sobeys announced it would leaving the movie business and sell all of its Empire Theatre locations across the country, leaving the future of the drive-in theatre in Westville, N.S. hanging in limbo.
“We’ve been going to it for years,” said Fred Pries, who lives in nearby Beaumont. “It’s been part of our heritage and it got me upset.”
It’s unclear exactly what will be happening with the drive-in.
“There’s been rumours of it being bulldozed under and being sold for business or just because they want the land” his wife, Verda Priest, told Global News.
She and her husband are two regular’s at the drive-in. They’ve been working to save the theatre by contacting their local MLA and drumming up local support.
The couple said the drive-in is a reminder of a simpler time and offers a chance for families to do something together — a rare feat these days.
“It’s like having part of my youth back again.” Fred Priest said.
“It’s just so much fun to go over there and sit under the moonlit night, and see all the cars and the moon shining on them. It’s just the place to go to have a good evening you know,” he said.
“Families can go and they can sit out on their lawn chairs in their pajamas, or in their sleeping bags when it gets cooler, and it’s a thing that is seasonal” Verda Priest added.
The couple isn’t alone in attempting to keep the drive-in theater operating.
A Facebook group has also been set up to spread the message, and more than 3,000 people have already signed an online petition to save the landmark.
The Westville drive-in was built in the 1950’s and even survived a fire that burned down the original screen.
The hope is, with enough support, the community can save the theatre for future generations to enjoy.
Comments