| Eateries |
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| A&W ROOT BEER STANDS |
| A&W Root Beer was founded in 1919 with the inventions of both root beer and root beer stands. A&W continued setting trends with the very first franchising in the late 1920s. By the 1960s, A&W had 2,400 outlets nationwide. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| A&W Root Beer La Crosse, WI |
The Root Beer Stand Sharonville, OH |
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This A&W Root Beer appears to be an old one although their building is modern. This style sign was produced before 1968 (when A&W switched to their oval logo). Has anyone seen any other signs like this? For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Root Beer Stand opened in 1957 as an A&W. It has been called simply "The Root Beer Stand" since 1982 when the contract with A&W expired. The root beer is made on-site using well water. They no longer have carhops but do have picnic tables and stools inside. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks George Feinthel] |
| Henry's Root Beer Stand Taunton, MA |
The Root Beer Stand Kalamazoo, MI |
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Henry's Root Beer Stand opened in Taunton in 1946 in a quonset hut. In the 1950s, Henry Wojtkunski moved his business to this location which was an A&W Root Beer. In the 1970s, Henry let the A&W contract expire and went it alone. His son ran the place for about eight years and then sold it to the current owners in 1999. In 2003, they bought a new replacement awning from the original manufacturer in Texas.
The Root Beer Stand is obviously a former A&W. There are two other locations in town. |
| Munchy's Morrisville, VT |
Eddie's Drive-in Harrison Township, MI |
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| A&W Root Beer Boulder City, NV |
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Munchy's opened as an A&W in 1955. In 1983, it was known as The Snack Bar. Munchy's has "cruise-ins" (for restored cars and hot-rods) and their own private-labeled bottles of root beer.
Eddie's Drive-in is obviously another former A&W with its integrated vertical sign. Eddie's still features car hops on roller skates. The Boulder City A&W was built in 1968 and still features the old wedge style roof sign. For more, see this website. |
| Kluck's Drive-in Ypsilanti, MI |
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| Kluck's Drive-in is apparently another former A&W. Their name may be a reference to the nearby Chick-Inn Drive-in. |
| Jigg's Drive-in Defiance, OH |
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| Jigg's Drive-in is apparently a former A&W drive-in. If not, at least the re-labeled plastic sign belonged to an A&W originally. |
| A&W Drive-in Middlebury, VT |
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| The Middlebury A&W has been around since the 1950s. The original building is where the basement is now (the road has been built up). This A&W features carhops on rollerskates. |
| A&W Drive-in Wyandotte, MI |
A&W Drive-in Wilmington, NY |
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This Wyandotte A&W has the old "pilgrim's hat" style roof and car hops - but a modern menu. In fact, there is no inside service. I believe this building style is from the late 1960s or early 1970s and are pretty rare now.
The Wilmington A&W is another example of this building style. The oval sign is also typical of the same period. The drive-in canopy portion has been converted to picnic table seating. |
| A&W Drive-in Flushing, MI |
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| This Flushing A&W has modified its old building. The zig-zag style canopy must be original. This A&W frequently features car shows and "cruise nights". |
| Becker's Drive-in former A&W Drive-in Columbus, IN |
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| Becker's Drive-in is a former A&W and another example of the hat-like roof. Becker's opened in 1949 at this location. The original building was demolished in the early 1960s and they erected this one. I don't know when the relationship with A&W started or ceased. Today, Becker's makes its own root beer. |
| Pilot Butte Drive-in former A&W Drive-in Bend, OR |
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| The Pilot Butte Drive-in opened in 1983 in this former A&W. For more, see this website. |
| vintage A&W Drive-in photos Owen Sound, ON |
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| The Owen Sound A&W is a modern building. However, there was a display of vintage photo reproductions there in 2007. I believe all of the locations shown were in Canada. The first Canadian A&W opened in Winnipeg in 1956. For more, see this website. |
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More A&W Buildings and Signs:
Lodi, CA Sacramento, CA Jefferson, IA Dearborn, MI Frankfort, MI Lansing, MI [vintage] Paradise, MI [vintage; gone] Rochester, MN Las Vegas, NV Madisonville, TN Montpelier, VT Okinawa, Japan [vintage] |
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A&W also installed fiberglass Root Beer Family statues at many of their locations. See this page for examples.
A&W also produced barrel-shaped buildings. See this page for examples. |
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