Coronavirus: Cinema owner resorts to selling roadside popcorn to pay employees

Virginia-based man is taking desperate measures to keep afloat during the pandemic

A cinema owner in the US has resorted to selling popcorn by the roadside after the coronavirus pandemic forced film screenings to stop.

67-year-old Mark O’Meara owns the University Mall and Cinema Arts theatres in Fairfax, Virginia, which have both been closed to help limit the spread of the virus.

Speaking to Variety, O’Meara said: “It’s horrible. All my life, I’ve had all kinds of tragedies, but I’ve never had a problem missing a meal or sleeping.

“This has been bugging me. I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night. As a 67-year-old, you’re supposed to get sleep, but I haven’t been able to.”

Referring to his decision to start selling “curbside concessions”, he said: “We have a parking lot the width of a sidewalk and nobody else is open, so there’s plenty of space.”

After business was initially slow, his takeaway popcorn scheme started gaining popularity, and is now reportedly averaging $300 to $400 (roughly £300) a day.

Cinemas across the UK are also closed as a result of the pandemic. You can find a list of ways you can support the cinema industry here.