Rooftop Austin Drive-In Theater Delays Opening

AUSTIN, TX — The year 2020 has been a real...humdinger (let's just leaave it at that). The latest bit of disappoing news: The Blue Starlite Drive-In located atop a downtown parking garage that was slated to open this weekend has had its debut delayed.

As Patch wrote last week, the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation partnered with Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in Theater to bring the facility atop the State parking garage located at 3rd and San Antonio streets. The theater was slated to open on Thursday through the end of October —with the possibility of an extended run — and will have showings Wednesday through Friday with other special select dates, officials said at the time.

Issues related as being of the "technical" variety have combined to suspend the opening, Patch learned. The Downtown Austin Alliance issued a statement to convey the bad news:

“Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties unrelated to the theater, we are postponing the opening weekend of the drive-in movie theater. Austin Energy is currently addressing an issue with their equipment that is located on the same level of the garage as the Blue Starlite Drive-in. We intend to begin showings on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and appreciate the overwhelming support we have received from the community since announcing the downtown rooftop location.”

Previous coverage: Drive-In Movie Theater Coming Atop Downtown Austin Parking Garage

An announcement on the new entertainment venue was suffused with palpable enthusiasm. Josh Frank, owner and creator of Blue Starlite, said at the time: "For many years, we have had a vision of a rooftop Blue Starlite in the heart of downtown Austin. Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, and their diligence in tracking down the perfect space, we are thrilled to be able to manifest our vision in solidarity with other local businesses."

That vision is still intact. But it's now deferred because...well, because 2020.