The ABCs of Lowell History is back for another round. This popular series explores a wide variety of topics in Lowell area history in weekly online articles and is written by volunteers and staff from the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
Q is for Quick
The Beginning of Fast Food in Lowell
Lowell history boasts of many wonderful eateries. From the sit-down restaurants, breakfast or lunch diners, seasonal ice cream shops, and soda fountains, Lowell has had many choices. With the variety of fast food available today, it is hard to picture life before the convenience of a drive-thru.
In 1963, Lowell restaurants included in the city directory were The Club Diner, Keiser’s Kitchen, Lowell Cafe, Moore’s Lunch, Showboat Restaurant, The Levee, and Village Inn. All were traditional walk in the door and sit at a table restaurants. Things were about to change, the idea of not having to leave your car to eat a meal was coming to Lowell.
In June of 1963 A&W Drive-In advertised their sandwiches and root beer with the slogan, “Come As You Are…Eat In Your Car.” The Drive-In was located at 1375 East Main Street but was always referred to as being at the east city limits, as it was the first business located within the city’s eastern limits. A&W was open into the early 1970’s. Today Progressive Heating and Cooling occupies the location.
Competition came in March of 1968. Dog ’n Suds began building at 1400 West Main, on the southeast corner of the intersection of West Main and Valley Vista. The west side of town was in a big development spurt. Homes and apartment buildings were being built on the north side of West Main, and construction was beginning on a trailer park south of West Main. The Dog ’n Suds new building also included a three bay car wash. At one time gas pumps were even proposed.
In 1969 Dog ’n Suds advertised a special, “The Showboat”, a soft ice cream dish that came in a boat. “The Showboat” sold for 59 cents during Showboat week. By June of 1971, Dog ’n Suds was gone, and the building was sold and “The Valley Vista” was opened. “The Valley Vista” kept the combination drive-in restaurant, car wash and general restaurant until it became the Valley Vista Steak House, a more traditional restaurant, in 1974.
In June of 1984, McDonald’s came to Lowell. It was quickly followed by Hardee’s and West Side Deli in 1988. Hardee’s opened May 1. The interior was designed with a “Showboat City” theme. West Side Deli opened on May 4 in the same building that was home to Dog ’n Suds. It was promoted as a fast-food alternative to burgers. The Deli featured ribs, broasted chicken, deep pan pizza and submarine sandwiches.
The first Burger King of Lowell opened in 1992. The franchise commissioned artists to do original historical watercolor pieces for the restaurant. This restaurant closed and then the building was eventually torn down to make room for the first Dollar Tree store. McDonald’s burned in 1996 but rebuilt on the same site and reopened. Hardees closed in 1991, and the building is now an Arby’s restaurant. The West Side Deli became a Pizza Hut, then was used for other businesses before being razed. Lowell’s second Burger King now sits at that location.
From the first ‘eat in your car’ trend of the A&W and Dog ’n Suds to drive-thru’s, fast food had come to Lowell. Today you can “drive-thru” at Arby’s, Biggby, Burger King, Culvers, Jimmy Johns, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, and Tim Hortons.
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