Black-owned drive-in movie theater born of the Covid pandemic has plans to stick around

The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically altered the small business landscape in the U.S., boosting some while crushing others.

For Ayana Morris and Siree Morris, it represented an opportunity: They co-founded drive-in movie theater Newark Moonlight Cinema. But even as vaccinations have some people returning to their pre-Covid ways, the Morrises told CNBC they have plans to expand their small business.

The pop-up theater, one of the few black-owned theaters in the country, screens classics and cult favorites with a focus on highlighting African American filmmakers and actors. Moonlight Cinema hosted more than 20,000 cars at its inaugural site during 2020. It’s capitalizing on pandemic-related distancing protocols even as indoor movie theaters and entertainment venues get back on their feet with vaccines now widely available in the U.S.

“We’re able to allow our patrons to naturally social distance ... you can be with the people that you’re already quarantining with, you feel comfortable with the people you live with,” Ayana Morris said. “You come down in your car, and you have a great experience watching a movie.”