Demolition machines begin tearing down Tacoma's Star-Lite Drive-In

TACOMA, Wash. — Huge demolition machines are tearing down the Star-Lite Drive-In on South Tacoma Way.

Built in 1948, the Star-Lite was once one of the largest drive-in theaters in the world and became a landmark on U.S. Highway 99. It was a big attraction in the 1950s and '60s, when families loaded into the car to park and watch movies on a giant screen.

“There was something special about the Star Lite,” said Bill Baarsma, Tacoma Historical Society president and former mayor. “It seemed bigger and grander. It wasn’t, but it seemed that way.”

In 1996, the Star Lite stopped showing movies and became a full time swap meet open seven days a week. But it quickly ran into problems.

In 2005, the swap meet was shut down by the recently incorporated city of Lakewood licensing and code violations and sellers hawking stolen goods. In 2014, a seller was arrested for peddling drugs hidden in mattresses. In 2016, KIRO 7 talked with owner Hank Bardon about ongoing efforts by Lakewood to close the Star Lite down for good.

“The city wants to get rid of the, quote, riffraff out here,” Bardon said.

Nearby business owners are happy to see the deteriorating site demolished and the swap meet closed. Chang Lee owns the T-Town Cafe across the street from the Star-Lite and says getting rid of it will be good for the neighborhood.

“The area is kind of a little dangerous. I think it’s going to be better,” Lee said.

A distribution center is planned for the massive site once it is cleared and some have expressed concern about traffic problems when large trucks begin moving in and out. But Lakewood city spokeswoman Brynn Grimley said traffic studies show the new business will have the opposite impact because cars heading into the swap meet used to back up onto South Tacoma Way.

“So we’re actually anticipating less during the week and significantly less on weekends,” Grimley said.

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