Todd was an 80’s child and remembered going to the drive in while he was a child and in his adolescence. They were still around in those days and still quite popular. In 2009 there was no longer a drive in within 45 minute of his home. That beautiful summer night Todd found himself analyzing the operation and what it would take for him to build one in his own community. While the kids were cuddled up enjoying a cartoon he was taking it all in.
That was a defining moment in his life. He knew that with a good plan, hard work and relentless dedication that someday he too would be a drive in theater owner and get to bring back the joy of this classic Americana entertainment back to his community.
At that time he was 13 years into his career as an automotive technician which he strived to be the best, most knowledgeable and honest technician he could be. He did well as a technician but knew he could build a drive in on a mechanics wage. Todd spent his career at 2 very busy auto repair facilities with great clientele and reputations. If maybe he could own his own shop with such success then maybe he could build that drive in.
The idea grew on him and it took 2 years but he saved, bought equipment and took a leap of faith. His business struggled for the first year and was always on the brink of failure. Too much competition in an area full of established repair shops. Todd survived by buying broken cars, fixing them and selling them for usually a tiny profit. Failure was not an option! It took time but soon people learned that those cars he fixed were good cars and his guy did good work. Business finally took off.
He hired a good fiend to help with day to day work load. Donald Collins quickly became a major asset to the business by taking some of the strain off Todd and having a knack for making the customers smile and laugh. Customers appreciated the honest, educational, quick work they received at a fair price. Success was finally achieved and maintained.
One day Todd simply asked Don if he wanted to help build a drive in theater. Without hesitation Don accepted the challenge. The two of them worked well together and knew they could make this happen. There was one question looming, with the shop so busy and already working 65 to 70 hours a week, where were they going to find the time. Given the lack of time they knew construction could take 3-5 year. It had already been 6 years since Todd opened his shop and the dream of building a drive in was always with him. Don believed in his vision and wanted to bring this back as well.
In 2017 Todd purchased the old Denniston Drive In that closed in 1985. Not only do they get to build a drive in but they also get to bring back an old one restoring some history in the community. it was the cherry on top!
The next four straight years Todd and Don worked literally every single day at the shop, plotting and planning at night and preparing for the weekend. There were always 3 plans: the good weather plan, the bad weather plan and the if all else fails plan. The lists were always long but eventually the to do book turned into to chapters, which then turned into to pages, finally landing on paragraphs. Mistakes were made and corrected, budgets were set and surpassed. Emotions were a roller coaster ride as well. Sometimes the sun shined down on the 2, sometimes the rains poured down, figuratively and literally. No matter what the 2 never gave up and kept their eye on the prize like a hawk on its prey.
From a vision 12 years prior followed by a leap of faith, a brink of failure, a no quit attitude great team work and a relentless drive to achieve a goal, Memory Lane Drive-In Theater will be open for public enjoyment spring of 2021!
BUY MOVIE &
