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Selectmen support plan for car hop, drive-in movies at Kowloon

Mike Gaffney
mgaffney@wickedlocal.com
Kowloon Restaurant.  Courtesy photo

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Kowloon hopes to open a car hop service as early as June 9 and show drive-in movies on a big-screen television up to seven nights a week.

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to grant Kowloon temporary outdoor seating to accommodate approximately 50 vehicles and 20 tables in the restaurant’s parking lot.

Bobby Wong of Kowloon said the intent is to operate a car hop with outdoor service of food and alcohol starting June 9, when restaurants are anticipated to be able to provide outdoor dining service with restrictions upon the start of Phase 2 in Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to reopen the state.

A 30-foot by 20-foot projection screen, upon which movies will be shown between four and seven nights a week, is being built outside the restaurant, Wong said.

Movies will begin when the sun goes down, and people can tune in on the radio to listen to the broadcast or go outside and hear the movie sound coming from speakers, Wong said.

Selectmen also approved Kowloon’s request for an entertainment license that permits a five-piece band to play outside. Wong told board members the music would be easy listening that customers can enjoy while getting something to eat or drink.

The outside dining area will be cordoned off with jersey barriers to protect patrons from vehicles, Wong said.

Selectmen Chairman Anthony Cogliano said the board wants to do what it can to help local restaurants that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants have been closed to dine-in service for a long time and people are looking for fun things to do, he stressed.

“I’m sure the outside movie theater will be a hit,” Cogliano said.

The car hop hours the selectmen approved for Kowloon are 11 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. People will be encouraged to purchase tickets for the drive-in movies by phone in advance, Wong said.

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