After Closing, Iconic Sycamore Drive-In Could Be Headed For Comeback

BETHEL, CT — The Sycamore Drive-In could soon reopen under new management, according to the owner of the property.

Property owner Julio Russo said negotiations are underway with a potential new operator who would revive the restaurant under the Sycamore Drive-In name, according to a report by Hearst Media. If an agreement is reached, the new operators would keep parts of the longtime menu, including the drive-in’s root beer and its popular Dagwood burger, the outlet reported.

The proposal would also include refreshing the restaurant’s interior over the next few months before reopening under the Sycamore name, according to Hearst's report.

The development follows the recent closure of Sycamore Drive-In, which served its final customers on Christmas Eve. The restaurant closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, ending a run that began in 1948 and spanned nearly eight decades.

At the time, the Austin family, which operated the drive-in for nearly 28 years, said the restaurant closed after its lease was not renewed. In a public message, the family thanked customers, employees, and the Bethel community for decades of support.

Long regarded as one of Bethel’s most recognizable landmarks, the Sycamore was also among the last remaining original drive-in restaurants. It served as a gathering place for generations of families, with customers often returning years later with families of their own. Many employees also stayed for decades, while others began working there as high school students and remained through college and beyond.

Beyond its food, the Sycamore was known for its weekly Cruise Nights, which brought classic cars to the parking lot on Saturday evenings from April through November, weather permitting. The events featured music, trophies, and crowds of spectators and car enthusiasts.

If negotiations are successful, the new operators would take over the storied property and continue the Sycamore’s legacy, according to a report by The Connecticut Scoop, potentially bringing the iconic Bethel drive-in back to life under new management.