Teenage entrepreneurs prepare to open holiday drive-in theater at Flinn Stadium this weekend 

QUINCY — Local moviegoers can pack up their cars and head to the drive-in this weekend for the first time in decades.

Frosty Flics Drive-In is set to open Friday night in the parking lot of Flinn Memorial Stadium, 4400 Maine.

Robert Ellery was in his late 30s when he opened the Gem City Drive-In back in 1953 (it closed in 1971, according to CinemaTreasures.org). By contrast, Quincy’s newest theater is owned and operated by 20 teenagers, all of whom are enrolled in the Adams County CEO program. 

Launched in the fall of 2023, Adams County CEO — an acronym for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities — connects high school seniors with local business professionals to provide a hands-on educational experience that teaches students the ins and outs of starting, operating and expanding a successful business. The Class of 2025 is the program’s first full class and includes students from nearly every high school in the county.

The program takes place throughout the school year, with a focus on building a single business as a class during the first semester and their own businesses in the second. After beating out the concept of a pickleball tournament in a vote for what their first-semester class business would be, plans to materialize a drive-in theater were set in motion.

“We’re all on the same team. Everybody wants this to succeed,” said Ashlyn Peters, a Quincy Notre Dame student who leads the drive-in’s day-of operations. “How are we seniors in high school about to own a class business? It blows my mind.”

Six classic “frosty flics” will be shown in the stadium parking lot throughout December, beginning Friday. 

• Friday, Dec. 6: Elf (2003)
• Saturday, Dec. 7: Home Alone (1990)
• Friday, Dec. 13: The Polar Express (2004)
• Saturday, Dec. 14: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
• Friday, Dec. 20: A Christmas Carol (2009)
• Sunday, Dec. 22: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Gates open at 5 p.m., with showtime set for 7 p.m. for all movies. Tickets run for $25 per car for a couple or $35 per car for a family of three or more — a front row spot can be reserved for an additional $5 — and can be purchased on their website. Ticket sales will close 24 hours before each scheduled showing.

Frosty Flics CEO Gabe Boll, also a student at QND, said it’s “the experience” that makes the drive-in more than just watching a movie in a car. 

The Frosty Flics crew will be dressed up for each showing:

• elf attire for Elf;
• ugly Christmas sweaters for Home Alone;
• business attire for The Polar Express;
• Whoville getup for How the Grinch Stole Christmas;
• pajamas for A Christmas Carol; and
• Halloween costumes for The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Guests are encouraged to join in the fun and dress up themselves.

A photo booth will be on site. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos on select nights. The Grinch is rumored to make an appearance.

The drive-in will feature a concession stand, but getting out of the car and walking in the cold won’t be necessary. Guests can simply scan a QR code to place an order from their car, and it will be delivered via golf cart by the drive-in’s spirited associates.

Aside from golf cart delivery, another notable difference between the concession stands of traditional theaters and that of Frosty Flics is the price. A large popcorn, drink and a box of candy typically costs more than $20 at local theaters, but Boll said that won’t be the case at the drive-in.

“The highest thing on our menu is $2,” he said.

Offerings will include hot chocolate, popcorn and various candies and sodas. Both cash and cards will be accepted. 

Ticket prices for each movie were largely determined by licensing fees, which account for roughly 50 percent of the cost for each ticket. After necessary operational expenses are paid for, the profits will be put back into the Adams County CEO class business account, which students can take loans from during the second semester to build their businesses.

“Once they get into individual businesses, that profit’s all theirs,” said Curtis Sethaler, the program’s facilitator. 

Frosty Flics chief marketing officer Anna Fenton already has an idea for next semester: an embroidery business. The concept came from a recent update to the dress code policy at QND, where she attends school.

“Last year we could wear plain crewnecks, but this year we can only wear a crewneck if it has a Notre Dame logo. Same thing with quarter-zips,” Fenton said. “Automatically, a built-in market. Who doesn’t want cute clothes?”

Peters is thinking beyond next semester. Though she was initially uncertain of what career path she wanted to explore at the start of the course, the last few months have given her clarity. She hopes to pursue cosmetology and eventually open a salon.

Adams County CEO is one of 74 chapters across 11 states that have developed since the first was launched in 2007 by the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship. The program features guest speakers, trips to local businesses in a variety of industries and one-on-one mentorships with local business leaders. 

Fenton has attended several business leadership conferences, but by comparison, the structure of the CEO program is what makes it a more worthwhile investment for her.

“Meeting kids long term throughout a year like this, meeting different businesses in the community and really having that connection with them establishes a deeper relationship and can help you more in your future than a 10-minute interaction you had one time,” she said.

Students gather at 7:30 on weekday mornings at John Wood Community College before splitting off to their respective schools for the rest of the day. Attire is graded, and it must be business casual.

“You can’t just show up in a hoodie,” Fenton said. “You have to show up business ready and like you’re going to a business meeting. You have to be the business leaders, so you can’t just show up unprofessionally dressed.”

To be considered for the class, students must submit a personal essay, complete a character survey and provide at least two character references. Names and personal details are hidden as board members review applications and narrow their selections to 20 students. 

Having received enough applications to implement a waitlist, the program is proving to be competitive.

“It’s taken off. It’s growing,” Sethaler said. “I’m just excited about the future of it.”