Update Jan. 6: Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in owner Josh Frank said the drive-in's last day at its East Austin location is Jan. 8.
Original Post: After three years in its current location in northeast Austin, Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in will relocate to Buda early next year, owner Josh Frank said.
Blue Starlite will move from their current location in the Austin Studios complex, their home for three years, to 1510 Satterwhite Road, Buda.
“A new Mueller development is taking over the lot we’ve been at,” Frank said. “We’ve known for six months we have to find a new home, so we took that opportunity to try and find something really special.”
Frank hopes to hold a soft opening in Buda by February, he said. The drive-in will feature one screen. The current Austin location holds between 60-80 cars, but the Buda location may start out slightly smaller, he said. The Blue Starlite shows double and single features of classic movies from the '60s to early '00s.
“We’re creating sort of an intimate experience,” Frank said. “We like to know who our guests are and talk to them. It’s a little bit different than the normal drive-in concept.”
Frank hopes to retain their Austin customers and also attract new patrons who live south of the capital.
“[Blue Starlite] is a small business,” Frank said. “We’re basically a couple of people that are really passionate about serving this one-of-a-kind experience to people that really want to have it. We’re excited to bring something fun and special to the [Buda] area.”
A friend suggested he look south of Austin for a new location, because there has been a lot of development and growth in the area, he said. Frank lived in San Marcos for years, and he had an especially good experience with talking to Buda residents, he said.
“When I met with people in the community and city people, everyone was very positive and friendly,” he said. “I really like the community feel of having a small business in a smaller place. I wanted that for the Blue Starlite.”
