I grew up in the late 40’s and 50’s so I kind of grew up with fast food. I was raised in Ohio City, Ohio; a small town and not much to do there. When I turned 16 and got my first car, a 1947 Ford Coup the favorite place to head to was Van Wert, Ohio just 7 miles north. The B & K root beer was already open and a favorite spot for teenagers and there hot cars on Friday and Saturday nights. It was like a cruise in every week end. My favorite was two chili dogs w/onions, fries and a large root beer, the chili dogs were 25 cents each. The B & K chain started in Indiana in the mid 40’s. The one in Van Wert still opens every summer.
If we wanted a good cheese burger we went to Dolly’s Restaurant, in downtown Van wert. I think the cheese burgers were 50 cents and you could get a bowl of fries for 25 cents. They were thin cut and crispy; the favorite way to eat them was to drown them with mustard and ketchup. There were booths all around with a juke box selection at each one so it was a favorite with kids. Yes we were also growing up with Rock and Roll and were all headed to hell!
If we wanted the ultimate hamburger for that time we had to drive to Lima, Ohio and visit the Kewpee in downtown. It was a 50’s style diner that seated 50 people and they had curb side service. The burgers were fried on a flat iron grill and were square, large and juicy! A big thrill was to use the turnaround table. The parking lot was so narrow you had to drive to the end and get on a rotating turn table to get turned around to exit.
The Kewpee was first started in Lansing, Michigan in 1923. Before WWII there were 200 locations east of the Mississippi. Most were 50’s diner style and had a large Kewpie doll in front. Most closed up during the war because there was a shortage of ground beef. Dave Thomas ate there growing up in Kalamazoo and got the idea of Wendy’s chain he started in 1969.
Today the Kewpee headquarters is Lima, Ohio and there are only 5 left; three in Lima and 2 in Lansing Michigan.
White Castle is the first Hamburger chain started in 1921 and still in operation; they serve mini burgers, the sliders that are so popular today.
Kewpee started in 1923.
B & K Root Beer started in mid-1940’s. All were individually owned and some are still open.
McDonalds started in 1940 didn’t franchise until 1955. Today there are more than 34,000 locations worldwide.
Wendy’s was started in 1969 by Dave Thomas; who copied both the square burger and the frosted malt from the Kewpee.
As much as I don’t care for the steady diet of fast foods a lot of the young people eat today I still get hungry for a good fast food cheeseburger. A Kewpee is my first choice; Wendy’s is my second and McDonalds is my third. With all of them I need a double to get a hamburger the size I remember in the 50’s.
If you have a good story about fast food please chime in and let us know.
Smokin Don
