By Kelly Gillespie | SCNow.com | Dec. 20, 2007

A Pee Dee landmark is one step closer to demolition.

Wednesday crews began tearing down the Sky View Drive-In in Florence.

The forty-eight year-old restaurant burned down back in September.

Now what's left from that fire will come down, and each movement is almost like taking a personal hit for Nick Mathes.

"Of course it hurts. When I started in Florence every time I go by it I look. Even if it's a building or no building I still look," said Mathes, a property owner.

Mathes still catches himself looking back in time forty-eight years ago, to the heyday of the Sky View Drive-in.

"Used to come out here just about every other day, bring the kids for drinks and French fries they still remember," said Mathes.

It was once a restaurant was filled with hot rod cars and even played a roll in a Hollywood movie.

Now it's a goodbye Mathes never envisioned.

"I never thought the place would burn down, never," said Mathes.

But, the Sky View drive-in has still left a permanent mark.

"Lot of memories, good memories and as long as I live there will still be a memory," said Mathes.

Demolition is expected to wrap up in the next few weeks.

The owners will keep the property and renting out the space.

They hope someone will choose to build another drive-in.

The official cause of the fire has not been determined.

Property owners told News13 they believe the fire started in a ceiling panel.

Originally published online here: http://www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-BTW-2007-12-20-0012.html