Meet the Black Couple that Just Opened a Drive-Thru Theater in New Jersey

Owning a drive-thru theater is not a business that is so common in the black community, however, this couple from New Jersey has taken up the initiative to open one in their neighborhood.   

Siree and Ayanna Morris, recently opened the Newark Moonlight Cinema to bring entertainment people amid the coronavirus pandemic. The filmmaker and real estate developer couple got the drive-thru theater idea from Ayanna’s documentary screening, Why Is We Americans? which was held at an outdoor film festival at the beginning of the year.

The couple set up their new drive-thru theater at the former Newark Bears baseball stadium which can accommodate up to 350 cars for each screening. The Newark Moonlight Cinema screens movies from a 55-foot screen and audio that is connected to the radio of each car. There are also available options for food and snacks on the Fanfood app.

The cinema is scheduled to show a movie per night from the day of its opening down till October 4. The cinema operates only on the weekends, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will show only one movie per night. It has since shown movies that include black filmmakers, talents, and arts, especially those that emerged from Newark. Movies such as Just Mercy, Girls Trip, Set it Off, and Creed 2.

According to some fans of the new drive-thru cinema, the atmosphere almost feels like a block party with the savory aroma of grilled fish, music, and liveliness, “without the booze”.

The drive-thru doesn’t give the typical moviegoing experience, rather, it is become a social spot and perhaps the largest weekend spot in Newark. According to Ayana, the cinema is a vibe.

“That’s our slogan. When you come here, you’re going to have good energy. It’s going to be a great vibe,” said Ayana Morris, co-owner of Newark Moonlight Cinema.

The cinema opened on July 24, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. It plans to wrestle racism by serving the underserved black community in Newark, and to also make a statement that Black culture should be celebrated.

“I saw that the thought behind the theater was to promote Black actors and Black filmmakers,” said Z. Medina, a moviegoer. “That’s an extra, extra incentive to want to come support my community, especially this year, with more of our issues on the front [headlines].”

Ayana Moris, a filmmaker and co-owner of Newark Moonlight Cinema, says the motivation for the cinema came at the seasonal drive-in, outdoor film festival, which also screened her Newark-themed documentary. Her husband, Siree’s experience as a real estate agent helped with drawing up proposals for the site.

Generally, black businesses in the U.S. usually face quite some hitches with the battle of systemic racism and disparities in play. The Morrises are quite prepared for what’s to come ahead, but mostly take pride in knowing their consumer base as much as they know themselves.