email: agilitynut@hotmail.com
Loading

Zesto Drive-ins (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

The Zesto frozen custard drive-in chain got its start in 1945. That's when L.A.M. Phelan developed the Zest-O-Mat freezer and founded Zesto Dairy Products. The earliest known location still in existence is located in Jefferson City, MO. It was built in 1945. By the early 1950s, there were already dozens of locations with three in Evansville, IN and others as far south as Louisiana. The franchise spread throughout the Midwest, South, and Northwest. At its peak, the company had at least fifty locations. One source says that by 1950, there were Zestos operating in 46 states. There is one known former location in California. By the mid-1950s or early 1960s, the chain had folded. The remaining locations are all independently operated. Origially, these stands only sold ice cream. Over the years, most of them have added other fast food items.

Zesto Drive-in
Broadway
Jefferson City, MO

Zesto Drive-in
Jefferson St.
Jefferson City, MO
There are two Jefferson City Zesto locations which are independently owned and operated. The city's first Zesto was built in 1948. In 1978, the owners moved this business to the Broadway location. They brought along this neon sign and installed it on the roof. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Jefferson St. location is called Zesto South. I don't know when it was built. This stand's neon sign is mounted on a pole. I would assume that the building has been remodeled and that this sign is also from 1948. These two striding men signs are unique to the Jefferson City locations. I don't know if they appeared at any other Zestos. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Zesto
Evansville, IN
This Evansville Zesto opened in 1949. It was the first location in town. I assume there was a classic, curved Zesto rooftop sign on this building originally. For more, see their website.

Zesto
Evansville, IN
I believe this building was the second Evansville Zesto location. It appears to be vacant now.

Zesto
Evansville, IN
This Evansville Zesto opened in 1952. It was the third location in town.

Zesto
Fort Wayne, IN
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.

Zesto
New Albany, IN
The original location of the New Albany Zesto was built in 1951. The stand moved to its current location in 1996 during a road-widening project. The sign was moved to the new building but the original building was demolished. The sign was destroyed in a storm a few years later and was replaced with the replica shown above. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Zesto
Bogalusa, LA
The Bogalusa Zesto features the classic rooftop sign and a giant rooster. The rooster revolved at one time. For more giant roosters like this, see this page.

Frosto
Crowley, LA
This Frosto opened as a Zesto in 1950. Around 1955, the drive-in went independent and changed the name to Frosto. The rooftop sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Zesto
Newberry, SC
The Newberry Zesto has been around since the 1950s. For more, see this website.

Angelo's Zesto
Columbia, SC		 Zesto
West Columbia, SC
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.

former Zesto
Athens, TN
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 (page 2) Main Eateries Page