ROOT BEER STANDS: B&K ROOT BEER

The B&K chain was founded in the mid-1940s in Michigan City, IN. There were 238 B&K locations around Indiana at one time. The remaining ones are now all independently operated.

BK Drive-in Van Wert, OH

The Van Wert B&K Drive-in opened around 1955. The neon sign is lit at night. For more, see this website.

BK Root Beer Drive-in Sidney, OH

The Sidney B&K Root Beer Drive-in is probably from the 1950s or 1960s.

B&K Root Beer Alexandria, IN		B&K Root Beer Muncie, IN

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 was closed in 2005 when this photo was taken. Does anyone know if it has reopened? As of 2009, it was for sale.

Barker's B&K Root Beer Kokomo, IN

Rupert's B&K Root Beer Kokomo, IN

Kokomo has two B&K Root Beer locations: Barker's and Rupert's. The Rupert's B&K features the same style neon mug sign as the one in Van Wert above but mounted on the roof rather than a pole. I don't know of any other B&K neon mugs.

B&K Root Beer West Logansport, IN

B&K Root Beer East Logansport, IN

Logansport has two B&K Root Beer locations at opposite ends of town. The B&K Root Beer West sign was probably all neon at one time or perhaps there was another root beer stand here before B&K.

West End B&K Root Beer Peru, IN

The West End B&K Root Beer is the only location that I know of with a neon hot dog on top of its sign. I'm told there is another B&K in Peru on South Broadway. Perhaps this is it.

Waddle Sugar Shack Mentone, IN

There are other Waddle Sugar Shack locations in Indiana including those in Akron, Claypool, Warsaw. I don't know if those are associated with B&K Root Beer.

B&K Root Beer Marion, IN

The Marion B&K Root Beer offers car hops and an indoor dining area.

B&K Root Beer Rochester, IN	B&K Root Beer Wabash, IN

The Rochester B&K Root Beer has an oval sign which I have not seen elsewhere. The Wabash B&K Root Beer features a classic drive-in canopy and walk-up window.

The Port Drive-in Chesterton, IN

The Port Drive-in features a plastic B&K mug on their roof. I have not seen another one like it. This drive-in opened in 1953 as Studman's. In 1957, it was renamed the Snack Shack. It became the Port Drive-in sometime after that. I don't know if this place was associated with B&K from the beginning or not. It appears one of the drive-thru canopies was converted into an indoor dining area.

Bummie's B&K Drive-in Bluffton, IN

Bummie's B&K Drive-in opened in 1962. They still have car hops. Their sign features an arrow like the one at the Chesterton stand above. Apparently, A&W used these arrows as well. For more, see this website.

Allen's Root Beer Coldwater, MI

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	former drive-in Kokomo, OH

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? This former Kokomo drive-in has a similar looking canopy. It may be owned by the restaurant next door but it is no longer in use. Does anyone know if this was ever a B&K or what business was here originally?

More B&K Root Beer Stands: Gas City, IN (open) Huntington, IN (open) Indianapolis, IN (open; now Mel's Drive-in) Knox, IN Mishawaka, IN (open) Warsaw, IN Akron, OH Cuyahoga Falls, OH (former Dog N Suds?) Troy, OH If anyone knows the status of these, has photos, or knows of others, I'd appreciate the info.

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