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Saying Goodbye to an All American Icon

2/7/2013

Originally published June 8, 2012

I hope I’m not dating myself here, but I remember when I was little and we would go to the A&W Drive-In to eat dinner. Those were special times when going out to eat happened like once a month or something. It meant you got a night off of liver and onions, or hamburger carrot hotdish, or creamed peas and tuna over toast. (Sorry Mom!) Not like today when take out is a daily occurrence and eating at home means microwaving something found in the freezer. Drive-ins were unique in that you actually pulled your car up to a menu on a pole,

ordered food and had it brought out by a wait person on a tray. It was then perched upon the glass in your side window so that you could then enjoy it in the close confines of your interior vehicle space, with your family of course. That might sound like punishment to kids these days but back then we actually looked forward to it.

Then if you forgot to ask for something you could push the button again and the server would magically reappear.

If they were extra cute, you might need something every 5 minutes.

If you didn’t have a car, or were on bike or something, you could always go inside and order at the counter.

A&W did a great job branding their menu with names like the Papa Burger,

the Mama Burger, the Teen Burger, and the Baby Burger. Root beers came in similarly sized and named mugs, Papa, Mama and Baby sized although I do not recall a Teen sized one. Sometimes a mug might accidentally be left in the car (whoops!) resulting in said mug ending up in someone’s kitchen cupboard. I’m not saying I ever did it, but sometimes the desire to keep one of those cute mugs was overwhelming and next thing you know you’re thinking “the devil made me do it”, Flip Wilson style, or “oh, look what rolled under the car seat.”

(I bought these at a garage sale. I did!) I think A&W eventually wised up and started selling them.

Until last summer, there was one A&W drive-in remaining in my vicinity. It was quite popular too. Old people (not referring to myself) went there because it made them feel young again and young people dragged their parents there, especially after soccer and baseball games because entire teams would meet up to celebrate a victory or commiserate a loss. So it was with great sadness and trepidation when a rival hamburger joint slash custard shop which I am not going to name here

opened less than two, yes two, blocks down the road. Result: A&W closed, out of business, for sale.

Every time I drive past it, I feel sad all over again. If I had money to burn I would buy it for nostalgia’s sake and reopen it because it makes people happy. Even my kids now say “Oh look, there’s the old A&W.” {sigh} Unfortunately it is getting destroyed by some neighborhood vandals who apparently also want to have an A&W souvenier of their own.

So I thought I better grab some images while I still can before it’s bulldozed or all the drive up menus are smashed out or taken. Goodbye ole’ A&W!

Saying Goodbye to an All American Icon

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