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 TV Horror Host |
Michigan Drive-in Restaurants (A&W's, etc) |
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Posts: 2959 (27-08-02 1:17 AM) Site Admin/Owner |
Thought I'd make a dedicated thread just for classic FOOD drive-ins of Michigan. This is the place to talk about A&W, Dog 'n Suds, and other classic drive-in restaurants of yesteryear. Enjoy!
Happy Haunting!
Keith Milford |
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unocal76 |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants (A&W's, etc) | ||
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Posts: 200 (27-08-02 6:28 AM) |
There is still a Dog-N-Suds in Montague.
Cleveland rocks... so do the towns on the San Andreas fault.
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Ghastly Gary |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants (A&W's, etc) | ||
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Recurring Character
Posts: 680 (27-08-02 6:38 AM) |
The Dog 'n Suds in Montague has its own web site at www.dog-n-suds.com
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driveintheaterdotorg |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants (A&W's, etc) | ||
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Posts: 105 (27-08-02 5:20 PM) |
Bob, add the A&W at 1982 W. Grand River in Okemos to your list. We used to have I believe two A&W Drive-Ins here in Lansing. One was on Grand River ave on the north side, it's still there, now a Mexican restaurant. Another on South Washington Ave on the south side, it's completely gone. I think there may have been one on Grand River in East Lansing near the MSU campus. I can check into these next time I'm at the library. We had at least one Dog-N-Suds also on Grand River in north Lansing, it's still there, now called Olympic Broil.
The building looks pretty much the same, no curb service though, pretty good food. There was a drive-in on West Saginaw (now a Wendys) called Sullys. I don't remember it, but I've been told it was the crusin' drive-in in the 50's and 60's ala American Grafitti/Happy Days. THE drive-in to visit in Lansing is called Nip-N-Sip. It's at 2603 N. East st. It's been there since I believe 1965, I've been eating there almost since then! Used to ride my bike up there to eat after collecting money on my paper route. They have the best Onion Rings on the planet, guaranteed! Also great burgers, coneys, rootbeer, etc, it's all good. Highly recommend visiting it! Gary, we've been to the Montague Dog-N-Suds twice now, try to make it a habit when we go to the Getty 4. It's a very cool drive-in, right by the water, and great food. |
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Unregistered(d) |
Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Posts: 0 (28-08-02 3:24 AM) |
Check previous posts for color photos of a vintage Richard's Drive-in Carfeteria grease-stained french fry bag. A similar one is up for auction on e-bay. Current bid at $350. This particular french fry bag includes the french fries, circa 1957. The only Richard's I remember is the one on Gratiot Avenue near 9 Mile Road. Another popular hangout for teens in fast cars was the Big Boy at 9 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue. There is an A & W Drive-in in Frankfort, just down the road from the Cherry Bowl Drive-in theater in Benzonia. Food at the A & W is exceptional. Especially the rootbeers. Great servers too.
Waitresses still call you "hon." If you're ever near Traverse City stop by Don's Drive-in. Can't miss it. Look for the shocking pink building near the miniature golf course. Logo is a '57 Chevy. Can't rave about it enough. Lot's of cool 50's-60's memorabilia throughout the place. Long waiting lines during the tourist season, but it's worth the wait. I asked the owner if he'd consider opening a chain of Don's Drive-ins. Says he's comfortable and "busy enough." Anyone ever been to a Sonic Drive-in? They're mainly in the southern states. Used to frequently eat at Sonic in Dallas. Frankie Avalon was featured in the television commercials. Foot-long cheese dogs a speciality. And no dessert till your plate is clean. Now, let's dig in and have fun. |
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unocal76 |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Posts: 200 (28-08-02 7:52 AM) |
Isn't it ironic that your name is "Coney"?
 I have been to the following A & W's: Bay City (mall) Bridgeport (was in the Speedway station, now gone) Hillman Manistee (formerly a Hardee's, before that, a Burger Chef) Ortonville Oscoda (now Mama's Kitchen) Rapid River Standish Traverse City Cleveland rocks... so do the towns on the San Andreas fault.
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Ghastly Gary |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Recurring Character
Posts: 680 (28-08-02 10:30 AM) |
Flint had a drive-in restaurant which as also called a "car-feteria. It was first called Dad's Car-feteria, later called Varsity Car-feteria and was at the corner of Fenton Road and 12th Street. It's a vacant lot now. There was also a Dad's Drive-in Restaurant in Flint on N. Dort Hwy. south of Leith St. Later called the D&D Drive-in, the building is still standing, but the sign is deteriorating. It currently houses a Ryder's truck rental business.
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unocal76 |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Posts: 200 (28-08-02 10:42 AM) |
Thanks, Gary! I'll have to check that out next time I'm in the Flint area.
Cleveland rocks... so do the towns on the San Andreas fault.
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Ghastly Gary |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Recurring Character
Posts: 680 (28-08-02 1:29 PM) |
Excuse me, that should be on N. Dort Hwy. SOUTH of Leith St. in Flint.
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xiaNaix |
Re: Michigan Drive-in Restaurants | ||
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Recurring Character
Posts: 28 (31-08-02 1:10 PM) |
I believe there's still an A&W on Main St. in Royal Oak near 14 Mile. Across from Thomas Video.
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unocal76 |
A & W update | ||
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Posts: 200 (03-09-02 5:02 PM) |
There is a former A & W in Newberry. It's now L & J Restaurant
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Ghastly Gary |
Former DI restaurant on Dort Hwy in Flint | ||
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Recurring Character
Posts: 680 (03-09-02 6:34 PM) |
I passed by the aforementioned former DI restaurant on N. Dort Hwy. south of Leith St. and it currently houses a beauty salon.
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thephoneman |
NIP-N-SIP | ||
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Posts: 119 (03-09-02 11:13 PM) |
After reading the line about it I went up there and had a bite to eat. Talk about fast service! I ordered some fish and chips and BOOM there it was, HOT too! I was totaly impressed. Its kinda wierd/neat that you have to drive to the back and drop off your tray
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driveintheaterdotorg |
Re: NIP-N-SIP/Olympic Broil | ||
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Posts: 105 (04-09-02 4:20 PM) |
Hey phoneman, glad you enjoyed! I was just there the other night. Everything there is good, but I can't stress enough, the onion rings are un-real!! Here's the url for a Nip n Sip pic, I have finally given up on trying to post pics on here!......
www.geocities.com/drivein...ipnsip.jpg And here is the old Dog n Suds, now called Olympic Broil, went there for the first time in about 10 years this past weekend, pretty good eats there too.......... www.geocities.com/drivein...cbroil.jpg |
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driveintheaterdotorg |
Re: NIP-N-SIP/Olympic Broil/A&W/Dog n Suds | ||
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Posts: 105 (07-09-02 12:54 PM) |
Bob, here's the Lansing former A&W's (and what's there now)for your list:
902 E. Grand River Ave. (now a mexican rest.) 3200 S. Cedar St. (now Jim's Backyard BBQ Drive-In) 623 S. Washington Ave. (gone) 1120 E. Grand River Ave. East Lansing (unknown) 315 S. Homer St. (unknown) 6200 S. Cedar St. (may be a misprint should be 3200?) Also, I think the A&W at 628 N Cedar St. in Mason may still have curb service? Former Dog n Suds: 1629 S. Washington Ave. (now a party store) 1431 E. Michigan Ave. (unknown/gone) 1320 N. Grand River (same building, now Olympic Broil, Dog n Suds closed about 1971) Former Burger Chef: 6031 S. Cedar St. (Arbys/ now closed?) 620 N. Homer St. (Arbys) 2316 N. East St. (church parking lot) |
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unocal76 |
Re: NIP-N-SIP/Olympic Broil/A&W/Dog n Suds | ||
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Posts: 200 (08-09-02 10:53 AM) |
OK. I finally made a web page listing all the former A & W's, Dog 'N' Suds, and Burger Chefs in the state of Michigan.
www.angelfire.com/mi4/cac...aandw.html It's still in need of a little work, but it's all I've got so far. Enjoy. Cleveland rocks... so do the towns on the San Andreas fault.
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jraterink |
Re: NIP-N-SIP/Olympic Broil/A&W/Dog n Suds | ||
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Posts: 9 (22-09-02 10:22 PM) |
Here's something that you missed:
Holland, MI used to have a Dog n Suds in the 70's, maybe into the early 80's. A Little Ceasar's Pizza now sits on the site. Wasn't the one in Grand Rapids in the Woodland Mall parking lot? I also seem to remember on on M-37, just South of Grand Rapids (unsure of actual city, so it might be listed). I also thought there used to be at least 1 Burger Chef in the Kalamazoo/Portage area. I don't remember the exact location, unfortunately. I hope this info helps Here are some other Drive -in Restaurants to consider: Heksels(spellinng?) on Airline Rd in Muskegon. Mike's on Red Arrow Highway in Bridgeman About a 3-6 Rootbeer stands in Kalamazoo. If anyone could list any deserted DI's (restaurants or theatres) especially in the West MI area, please let me know. I would love to photograph them. |
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unocal76 |
Re: NIP-N-SIP/Olympic Broil/A&W/Dog n Suds | ||
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Posts: 200 (23-09-02 9:33 AM) |
Drive-in theater: There is a fully preserved, if abandoned, drive-in theater on M-60 west of Mendon.
Cleveland rocks... so do the towns on the San Andreas fault.
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Driveinut |
GR area Dog and Suds | ||
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Posts: 9 (23-09-02 5:54 PM) |
J, the rootbeer joint at Woodland Mall was an A&W, now gone. The Dog & Suds on M-37 was just a few miles south of that mall on the west side of the road just north of Caledonia.
As for GR area Burger Chefs I know about, there was one on 28th street right across from the old Beltline DI and Studio 28 indoor plus the one I went to frequently was on the west side of Division Ave about 1/2 mile south of 28th street. Now it's a car dealership. This is just a few miles north of the Division DI (I knew it as the Stardust). You're really in my old backyard with these. |
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RonTMD |
A & W's | ||
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Posts: 48 (24-09-02 11:09 AM) |
A couple more that I didn't see on that list ...
Harrison (on BR-127) Now a Diner Lapeer (on M-24 south end of town) not sure if it's still there or not. Munising It's still an A & W (ate there while on vacation in August) |
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jraterink |
Re: GR area Dog and Suds | ||
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Posts: 9 (24-09-02 4:15 PM) |
I think a Burger King sits where the A&W on M-37 used to rest. I'm not sure what is in the old A&W by Woodland Mall. There also used to be an A&w in South Haven. I forget the road exactly (just off of Blue star Highway -I think the road turns into M-43 on the left, but might be wrong. for a while it was called W&W's, but I think it has a new name. It is almost across from the D&W. There is also a really neat deserted DI restaurant just south of South haven on Blue Star. It has been abandoned for at least 9 years, and appears to have served Hires rootbeer. I'll post some photos soon, if anyone is interested.
The next time anyone is up in the GR area, please check out Rosie's Diner in Rockford. It is a great experience with darn fine food. Thanks for reading my ramblings, Jeff Jeff |
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