Carter's Hamburgers (Demolished)
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Mike Engle
Carter's Hamburgers was another classic example of the white-tiled burger stands that once dotted the Detroit area. With its bright porcelain exterior and compact design, it looked right at home alongside other independent slider joints that flourished throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Like many neighborhood hamburger stands of the era, Carter's built its reputation on simple food served quickly. At one time there were several Carter's locations throughout the metro area, but today only the longtime Dearborn restaurant remains, carrying on the name.
It's always fun seeing photos of these little white burger buildings because they were such a familiar part of the roadside landscape. Unfortunately, this particular location has disappeared, joining the long list of classic burger stands that are now just memories.
UPDATE: This Carter's Hamburgers location has been demolished. The only surviving Carter's restaurant is the longtime location in nearby Dearborn. 06-26
McDonald's (Demolished)
Des Plaines, IL Photo courtesy Emily Steele
McDonald's in Des Plaines was one of the most important locations in fast-food history. Opened by Ray Kroc in 1955, it became the first McDonald's franchise and helped launch what would eventually become one of the world's most recognizable restaurant chains.
The building shown here wasn't the original restaurant but a faithful museum replica built in 1985 after the 1955 structure was demolished. Even so, it featured one of the best collections of early McDonald's history, including vintage equipment, period displays, and, best of all, the classic roadside sign with its original Speedee mascot. It's always great to see one of those early arches still standing, especially with Speedee smiling down on passing motorists.
Although the museum was a popular stop for road enthusiasts, repeated flooding from the nearby Des Plaines River eventually took its toll. The building closed to visitors in 2008, and nearly a decade later the replica was removed, bringing an end to one of the most photographed McDonald's landmarks in America.
McDonald's #1 Store Museum
Des Plaines, IL Photo courtesy George Massman
McDonald's #1 Store Museum
Des Plaines, IL Photo courtesy George Massman
The McDonald's #1 Store Museum is a "recreation
of the first McDonald's Restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois by
McDonald's Corporation founder Ray Kroc on April 15, 1955.
UPDATE: The McDonald's #1 Store Museum was demolished in 2018. The replica building is gone, although the historic Speedee sign was removed beforehand and preserved by the company. 06-26
Wympee was one of Dayton's classic hamburger spots and a longtime neighbor to the city's famous White Tower. Opened in 1938, it eventually became the last surviving location of a local chain named after the hamburger-loving "Wimpy" character from the Popeye comic strip.
Like many downtown lunch counters of the era, Wympee catered to workers looking for a quick, inexpensive meal. The compact diner featured an open kitchen surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped counter with just 25 stools, creating the kind of friendly atmosphere where regulars quickly got to know one another. Even though it wasn't a large restaurant, Wympee built a loyal following that lasted for decades.
Wympee
Dayton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
To the right is the Wympee exterior as seen from the sidewalk
One of the things I enjoy about this block is that it tells the story of Dayton's roadside history in just a short walk. Wympee sat only steps away from White Tower, giving hungry customers two classic hamburger stands to choose from. Today, very few places still have that kind of concentration of surviving roadside architecture.
When Richard Weiss revisited Wympee several years after Dirk Burhans photographed it, very little had changed. The exterior remained largely untouched, a sharp contrast to the White Tower across the street, which had already been transformed into White Lotus. It's nice to see a building like this retain so much of its original character despite the passing years.
Although Wympee closed as a hamburger restaurant in 2009, the building has continued finding new life under different owners. That's always encouraging to see because once a building like this disappears, it's gone forever. Hopefully this little piece of Dayton history continues to find new uses for years to come.
To the left is a photo of Wympee's from the perspective of the White Lotus (former White Tower).
Wympee (Closed)
Dayton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
UPDATE: Here are a couple of recent photos of Wympee. Unlike the White Tower across the street that is now a White Lotus, Wympee's exterior is largely unchanged over the past decade. Many thanks to Richards Weiss for update. 09-13
UPDATE: Wympee closed as a hamburger restaurant in 2009, but the historic building still stands and continues to be adapted for new restaurant uses. 06-26
Burger Boy Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Burger Boy was one of those classic drive-ins that seemed built for the cruising era. Located on East Livingston Avenue in Columbus, it welcomed hungry motorists with a colorful roadside sign promising "Quick Service" and "No Finer Quality."
By the late 1950s, Burger Boy had become a popular gathering spot for teenagers and families on Columbus's east side. Like many drive-ins of the era, it offered a simple menu of burgers, fries, and shakes served in a setting designed for the automobile. Places like this weren't just restaurants, they were neighborhood hangouts where people met up after football games, spent summer evenings, or grabbed a quick bite before heading home.
UPDATE: Not sure if this Burger Boy was a stand alone location separate from the Mainliner and the BBF chain. In either case, the current status of this gem is unknown. 06-26
Jobee's Hamburgers (Demolished)
Fort, MI Photo courtesy Mike Engle
Jobee's Hamburgers was one of those classic drive-ins where eating in your car was all part of the experience. Pull into a parking space, wait for the car-hop to appear, and before long you'd have burgers, fries, and a frosty root beer delivered right to your window.
Located along busy Fort Street, Jobee's became a favorite gathering place for the Downriver community during the 1950s and 1960s. Owned by the Frendo family, it offered the kind of simple menu that made neighborhood drive-ins so popular and gave local teenagers another place to meet while cruising Fort Street.
It's always fun looking back at places like this because they remind us how much the roadside dining experience has changed. Car-hop service has become a rarity, making photos like this even more special.
UPDATE: Jobee's is gone. The drive-in was demolished years ago, and the site has since been redeveloped. 06-26
Carter's Hamburgers (Demolished)
McDonald's (Demolished)
Wympee (Closed)
Although Wympee closed as a hamburger restaurant in 2009, the building has continued finding new life under different owners. That's always encouraging to see because once a building like this disappears, it's gone forever. Hopefully this little piece of Dayton history continues to find new uses for years to come.
