Since launching during the pandemic last year as a way to enjoy movies while maintaining social distancing and supporting local nonprofits, the Alexandria Drive-In has raised more than $150,000 for local charities. But as life returns to normal, the pop-up theater is ending operations.
In an email to supporters, sponsor Athena Rapid Response wrote: "The Alexandria Drive-in was founded at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to entertain and bring people together, even as we maintained our distance. As vaccination numbers rise and we are, thankfully, able to return to our new normal; celebrating in person with friends and families, attending events, and even going back to movie theaters, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Alexandria Drive-in."
The last movie will be on July 17 at 9 p.m. -- a showing of Shrek.
In 2020, the Alexandria Drive-In launched as a not-for-profit venture led by ALX Community with significant support from The Garden (by Building Momentum), corporate sponsors, food trucks and hundreds of volunteers on scooters.
The pop-up movie screen appeared weekend nights on the west side of the Victory Center in the Eisenhower West valley. The Alexandria Drive-In raised more than $100,00 for local nonprofits in 2020. In 2021, Athena Rapid Response took over the drive-in operation and started showing movies in March.
Movie theaters are starting to reopen now, though attendance is still significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
During non-movie times, the parking lots surrounding the Victory Center were used as a COVID-19 testing site, and Inova opened a mass vaccination center in the Victory Center building in early 2021.
Stonebridge and Winchester Homes will start building new housing surrounding the Victory Center in 2022.
