| Eateries |
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| ZESTO DRIVE-INS |
| Around 1946, L.A.M. Phelan developed the Zest-O-Mat freezer for Zesto Dairy Products. The Midwest chain of Zesto Frozen Custard Stores was founded the following year. Locations were added in the South and Northwest as well and the chain had at least 50 stores at one time. The company folded in 1951 and the locations are all independently operated now. |
| Zesto Drive-in Ponce de Leon Atlanta, GA |
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| Zesto Drive-in Moreland Avenue Atlanta, GA |
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| Burrito Brothers Atlanta, GA |
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I think this Ponce de Leon location is the original Atlanta Zesto location, offering burgers, sandwiches and ice cream here since 1949. I believe the chrome exterior is a recent retro update. The signs appear to be updated reproductions.
The Moreland Avenue location is not much to look at but they have these two nice signs. The Burrito Brothers on Piedmont Road is a former Zesto Drive-in. Note the icicles and logos on the exterior. There is another Burrito Brothers in Tyrone, GA is probably another former Zesto. Their menu includes the Zesto logos. |
| Zesto Drive-in Broadway Jefferson City, MO |
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| Zesto Drive-in Jefferson St. Jefferson City, MO |
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| There are two Jefferson City Zesto locations. The Broadway location features a rooftop sign. The Jefferson St. sign is mounted on a pole. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Zesto Mitchell, SD |
Zesto Lincoln, NE |
Dick's Zesto Drive-Inn Fremont, NE |
Zesto Omaha, NE |
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The Mitchell Zesto has been here since at least the 1960s.
This Lincoln Zesto is one of two in town. The other is modern and part of a strip mall. I believe this location opened in 1950. For more, see this website. Dick's Zesto Drive-Inn features a plastic sign with colorful balls. I don't know of any other Zesto location that has this. For more, see this website. This Omaha Zesto has the older, classic rooftop sign. For more, see this website. |
| Zesto Omaha, NE |
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| I assume this other Omaha Zesto must have either rebuilt or remodeled their building extensively. The sign is the classic rooftop design but moved to a pole. I believe this location's roof design and interior tilework is unique. |
| Zesto Drive Inn Brookings, SD |
Zesto Shop Pierre, SD |
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The Brookings Zesto Drive Inn apparently replaced its signage at some point. This location opened in 1950. For more, see this website.
The Pierre Zesto Shop has the clasic curved rooftop sign. I don't know if the checks on the blue background were original or added later. The sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| Zesto Drive Inn Watertown, SD |
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| The Watertown Zesto features the classic curved roof sign and a nice neon pole sign as well. |
| former Zesto Athens, TN |
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| The Athens Zesto was being converted into the Spice of Life Cafe when I was there in 2007. The sign will be painted over. |
| Zesto's Burger & Fish House Seattle, WA |
Penguin Zesto Winona, MN |
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The Zesto's Burger & Fish House has been here since 1952. It's the last one left of seven that were in Seattle. This location used to have a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air installed next to the roof. This Zesto part of the sign revolves and the bulbs work. The building is unremarkable. There was talk of the place being demolished in 2001 but, as of 2008, it's still there. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Penguin Zesto was once part of the Zesto chain. I don't know if this cute barn-like building was built when it opened or if it came later. |
| Zesto Newberry, SC |
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| The Newberry Zesto has been around since the 1950s. For more, see this website. |
| Zesto Fort Wayne, IN |
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| The Fort Wayne Zesto has been here since the 1950s. Neon was added to the rooftop sign in 2009. I don't know if the sign originally had neon or not. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Angelo's Zesto Columbia, SC |
Zesto West Columbia, SC |
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Angelo's Zesto opened in 1951. This plastic sign is most likely a replacement. The interior still features the Zesto logo. There were five Zesto locations in the Columbia area at one time. This Zesto opened in 1961. The building has been expanded over the years. The original fiberglass 15' tall cone is unique. For more, see this website. |
| S&I Ice Cream Concord, NC |
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| S&I Ice Cream was originally a Zesto Drive-in which opened around 1965. S&I Ice Cream was at a previous location before moving into this building. [photo/info thanks Robby Delius] |
| Sno-White Drive-in Madera, CA |
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| I don't think this Sno-White Drive-in was ever a Zesto. However, the rooftop sign's shape and the position of the cone are awfully close to the ones shown above, particularly that in Athens, TN. Did one chain copy the other's sign? Sno-White had about 200 locations in CA but I have never seen one with signage this old. I have not heard of Zestos in CA before either. This Sno-White sign's lettering and neon appear to be old and original. The building and rooftop sign were repainted bright yellow in 2009. The neon is only partially lit. |
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More Zesto Drive-ins:
New Albany, IN Bogalusa, LA Alliance, NE Wahoo, NE Nacogdoches, TX [might be a former Zesto] There are other Zestos out there that I don't have photo references to yet. If you know know of other locations or have photos of them, I'd love to hear from you. |
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