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| ROOT BEER STANDS (page 2) |
| Triple XXX Root Beer [gone] somewhere in WA |
Triple XXX Root Beer [gone] Waco, TX |
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| Triple XXX Root Beer Issaquah, WA |
Triple XXX Family Restaurant Lafayette, IN |
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The first drive-in in the Pacific Northwest was built in 1930 in Renton, WA. This Triple XXX Root Beer was part of a national chain in the 1930s and 1940s. It was the first with the twin barrel design. Triple XXX Root Beer originated around 1908 in Galveston, TX. (See this image of a stand in TX.) The XXX represents a rating system, similar to three stars, with the XXX meaning excellence. For more about Triple XXX Root Beer, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Waco location was also known as Harry Lewis Triple XXX. The Issaquah location is one of two Triple XXXs that remain. In the 1960s, it was moved to this spot, bringing the giant sign with it by crane. Although early Triple XXXs were built around a giant root beer barrel, I'm not sure if the one in Issaquah ever had a 3-D barrel. This drive-in hosts classic car shows on weekends during the summer. For more about this place, see these websites: 1 and 2. The other survivor is the Triple XXX Family Restaurant - a popular hangout near Purdue University. They still sell the original Triple XXX root beer. The stand opened in 1929 and was the first drive-in in Indiana. The place eventually became a single story restaurant. In 1987, they added a second story. The restaurant now seats 49 and uses the motto "On the Hill but on the Level". They are known for their 100% chopped sirloin sandwiches (burgers), ground in the kitchen and floured just like they have been since 1929. For more, see their website. The Kegs Drive-in (no photo) in Grand Forks, ND has two 20' tall root beer barrels in its building design. In 2002, it was sold to new owners who plan to keep the same menu and restore the kegs. I'm not sure if this patented design from 1952 played a role in Triple XXX building design. For more barrel-shaped buildings, see this page. |
| Allen's Root Beer Coldwater, MI |
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| Allen's Root Beer was originally part of the B&K Root Beer chain. It has been Allen's since around 1980. They have car hop service and cruise nights on Mondays. |
| Root Beer Drive-in Wadsworth, OH |
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| The Root Beer Drive-in canopy looks like an inverted version of the one at Allen's Root Beer described above. This drive-in was probably part of a chain - possibly a B&K. Does anyone know more about this place? |
| B&K Root Beer Alexandria, IN |
B&K Root Beer Muncie, IN |
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The Alexandria B&K Root Beer has car hops and still serves root beer in glass mugs. For more, see this website.
This Muncie B-K Root Beer seems to be closed. I don't know when B&K started, how many and how widespread their locations were, or when the chain disbanded. I believe they are all now independently operated. The locations that I know of: Logansport, IN (still open); Bluffton, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Wabash, IN; Knox, IN; Troy, OH; Sidney, OH; and Akron, OH. If anyone knows the status of these, has photos, or knows of others, I'd appreciate the info. |
| KN Root Beer Dyersburg, TN |
KN Root Beer Amarillo, TX |
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The Dyersburg KN Root Beer looks like it might be from the 1950s. The chain was based in TX but more than that I don't know. I believe there is another stand still in Mayfield, KY. For more, see this website.
The Amarillo KN Root Beer opened in 1968. They still have carhops and frosty glass mugs. |
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