The rising cost of living is closing some iconic spots—here’s what’s keeping them alive
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As the cost of living continues to rise, certain beloved venues are finding it harder to stay afloat.
What once seemed like staples of everyday entertainment are now fighting to survive in an ever-changing landscape.
The battle to stay relevant in today’s market is more than just about keeping the lights on—it’s about reinventing the very experience they offer.
As costs soared, once-popular venues found themselves struggling to survive.
Although some drive-in movie theatres saw a revival during COVID, this form of entertainment had become a rarity — much like the all-you-can-eat pizza buffets that were once a fixture in the fast food landscape.
Drive-in cinemas, which boomed in the post-war era, now number only a handful.
These theatres emerged during a time of increased car ownership and disposable income in Australia, but today, just 12 remain operational, according to Elizabeth Heck, a creative industries researcher at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
One of the few surviving venues, the Tivoli Drive-In Theatre in Ipswich, Queensland, first opened in 1976.
Later, it was purchased by Pastor Fred Muys, who had a vision for it as a community hub.
The Tivoli Drive-In Theatre is not only a place for movies but also runs a registered charity, offering support services for people experiencing food insecurity and providing training for the unemployed.
In addition to film screenings, the venue hosts local events such as monster truck shows and festive celebrations, keeping the community engaged even through tough times like the pandemic.
Pastor Muys reflected that without these extra events, the drive-in would be ‘totally uneconomic’ due to the high value of the land.
‘We've become a little bit of a retro, family experience … [we] recreated the feeling and atmosphere, to reinvent ourselves,’ he said.
This adaptability has been essential as new technologies shifted consumer behaviours. Streaming services, in particular, had impacted the cinema industry.
Martie-Louise Verreynne from the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law noted that dining out had also changed, with convenience now taking precedence.
‘It’s all about staying in, watching a movie and getting things at home,’ Verreynne explained.
Dr Nicolas Pontes, a senior business lecturer at UQ, observed that inflation had pushed up the cost of dining out, making it more of a luxury for many Australians.
‘What was a common treat that people would do regularly, now becomes more of a luxury,’ Dr Pontes said.
Despite the challenges posed by new technology and streaming, Pastor Muys emphasised that cheap drive-in tickets continued to attract crowds, particularly during the summer and school holidays.
‘This month, we had our biggest ever crowds at the drive-in because $15 a car for two new release movies is a great way to entertain a family,’ he said.
To keep it affordable, the drive-in venue has intentionally kept costs low for working-class families.
As operational costs rose, the number of these venues dwindled, and the large spaces required for drive-ins made them vulnerable to residential development.
Historically, drive-in cinemas benefited from cheaper land, but urban sprawl made it increasingly difficult to operate in inner-city areas. Mimi Tsai, an expert on urban environments at QUT, pointed out that such venues have become ‘almost impossible’ to sustain in urban centres.
Dr Pontes added that the cost of running all-you-can-eat establishments had also increased. With higher food waste, more staff required, and stricter health and safety expectations, these restaurants had become financially unsustainable.
Dr Heck noted that despite the growing costs, these classic venues still provided a ‘novelty and social experience’ for customers, allowing them to relive nostalgic moments.
Professor Verreynne observed that traditional all-you-can-eat venues and drive-ins were becoming increasingly niche.
‘Nostalgia is a big factor,’ she said.
‘People want to relive those past experiences.’
Generations often long to return to the activities of their youth, as Dr Heck observed, recalling the appeal of drive-in movies in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, Dr Tsai said it had become difficult to generate interest in these niche experiences, with modern distractions like social media competing for attention.
‘It's really hard to get people interested in niche venues because there's so much competition,’ Dr Tsai said.
Unfortunately, by opting for the most convenient choices, many people missed the opportunity to explore the cultural and social significance of these special places.
For Pastor Muys, it was heartening to see parents share the same drive-in experiences with their children, making new memories together.
‘They're like, “Wow, I came here 20 years ago and it's still around, this is amazing’,’ he said.
Dr Heck agreed, noting that such venues would always hold an ‘important place’ in our cultural landscape.
With only two drive-in cinemas remaining in south-east Queensland, Pastor Muys emphasised the importance of keeping these venues alive for future generations.
In the face of adversity, he remained hopeful that these spaces would endure, providing both nostalgia and new experiences for years to come.
Do you think there’s still a place for drive-ins and all-you-can-eat buffets in today's society, or are they simply relics of the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What once seemed like staples of everyday entertainment are now fighting to survive in an ever-changing landscape.
The battle to stay relevant in today’s market is more than just about keeping the lights on—it’s about reinventing the very experience they offer.
As costs soared, once-popular venues found themselves struggling to survive.
Although some drive-in movie theatres saw a revival during COVID, this form of entertainment had become a rarity — much like the all-you-can-eat pizza buffets that were once a fixture in the fast food landscape.
Drive-in cinemas, which boomed in the post-war era, now number only a handful.
These theatres emerged during a time of increased car ownership and disposable income in Australia, but today, just 12 remain operational, according to Elizabeth Heck, a creative industries researcher at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
One of the few surviving venues, the Tivoli Drive-In Theatre in Ipswich, Queensland, first opened in 1976.
Later, it was purchased by Pastor Fred Muys, who had a vision for it as a community hub.
The Tivoli Drive-In Theatre is not only a place for movies but also runs a registered charity, offering support services for people experiencing food insecurity and providing training for the unemployed.
In addition to film screenings, the venue hosts local events such as monster truck shows and festive celebrations, keeping the community engaged even through tough times like the pandemic.
Pastor Muys reflected that without these extra events, the drive-in would be ‘totally uneconomic’ due to the high value of the land.
‘We've become a little bit of a retro, family experience … [we] recreated the feeling and atmosphere, to reinvent ourselves,’ he said.
This adaptability has been essential as new technologies shifted consumer behaviours. Streaming services, in particular, had impacted the cinema industry.
Martie-Louise Verreynne from the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law noted that dining out had also changed, with convenience now taking precedence.
‘It’s all about staying in, watching a movie and getting things at home,’ Verreynne explained.
Dr Nicolas Pontes, a senior business lecturer at UQ, observed that inflation had pushed up the cost of dining out, making it more of a luxury for many Australians.
‘What was a common treat that people would do regularly, now becomes more of a luxury,’ Dr Pontes said.
Despite the challenges posed by new technology and streaming, Pastor Muys emphasised that cheap drive-in tickets continued to attract crowds, particularly during the summer and school holidays.
‘This month, we had our biggest ever crowds at the drive-in because $15 a car for two new release movies is a great way to entertain a family,’ he said.
To keep it affordable, the drive-in venue has intentionally kept costs low for working-class families.
As operational costs rose, the number of these venues dwindled, and the large spaces required for drive-ins made them vulnerable to residential development.
Historically, drive-in cinemas benefited from cheaper land, but urban sprawl made it increasingly difficult to operate in inner-city areas. Mimi Tsai, an expert on urban environments at QUT, pointed out that such venues have become ‘almost impossible’ to sustain in urban centres.
Dr Pontes added that the cost of running all-you-can-eat establishments had also increased. With higher food waste, more staff required, and stricter health and safety expectations, these restaurants had become financially unsustainable.
Dr Heck noted that despite the growing costs, these classic venues still provided a ‘novelty and social experience’ for customers, allowing them to relive nostalgic moments.
Professor Verreynne observed that traditional all-you-can-eat venues and drive-ins were becoming increasingly niche.
‘Nostalgia is a big factor,’ she said.
‘People want to relive those past experiences.’
Generations often long to return to the activities of their youth, as Dr Heck observed, recalling the appeal of drive-in movies in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, Dr Tsai said it had become difficult to generate interest in these niche experiences, with modern distractions like social media competing for attention.
‘It's really hard to get people interested in niche venues because there's so much competition,’ Dr Tsai said.
Unfortunately, by opting for the most convenient choices, many people missed the opportunity to explore the cultural and social significance of these special places.
For Pastor Muys, it was heartening to see parents share the same drive-in experiences with their children, making new memories together.
‘They're like, “Wow, I came here 20 years ago and it's still around, this is amazing’,’ he said.
Dr Heck agreed, noting that such venues would always hold an ‘important place’ in our cultural landscape.
With only two drive-in cinemas remaining in south-east Queensland, Pastor Muys emphasised the importance of keeping these venues alive for future generations.
In the face of adversity, he remained hopeful that these spaces would endure, providing both nostalgia and new experiences for years to come.
Do you think there’s still a place for drive-ins and all-you-can-eat buffets in today's society, or are they simply relics of the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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