Regardless that I used to be accustomed to Howdy Doody, I had no thought {that a} Howdy Beef n’ Burger existed. Then I believed it may need been a one-shop tester till I learn there have been twenty-seven places at their peak within the Seventies.
All the Howdy Beef n’ Burgers had been positioned in New England, which is sensible since I tracked down franchise advertisements in Bangor, Maine; Portland, Maine; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire newspapers.
I did have fairly a number of Howdy Beef n’ Burgers gadgets on show at Burger Museum, together with a free Beefburger card, but I by no means got here throughout the creepy little bunny giveaway of the Star Wars cups.
The Historical past of Howdy Beef n’ Burger
Howdy Beef n’ Burger was a notable quick meals chain began within the Sixties by William Rosenberg, the identical entrepreneur who based Dunkin’ Donuts. Impressed by the favored kids’s tv present Howdy Doody, which aired from 1947 to 1960, Rosenberg aimed to create a singular eating expertise combining basic burgers’ enchantment with a contact of nostalgic appeal.
Origins and Enlargement
The primary Howdy Beef n’ Burger restaurant rapidly gained traction as soon as it opened in 1965. The chain’s preliminary development was centered round Boston, however it will definitely expanded to incorporate no less than 27 places throughout New England. A big facet of the model was its co-branded places with Dunkin’ Donuts.
These mixture shops, just like the one in Harmony, New Hampshire, owned by Sam Silverstein, provided breakfast choices and lunch or dinner fare, maximizing buyer comfort and growing profitability. Prospects may begin their day with a espresso and doughnut from Dunkin’ Donuts and return later for a hearty burger meal from Howdy’s.
Howdy Beef n’ Burger Menu and Recognition
Howdy Beef n’ Burger‘s menu was numerous, catering to the tastes of New Englanders with choices just like the Large “B” (their model of the Large Mac or Whopper), roast beef sandwiches, fried hen plates, and seafood dishes together with haddock, shrimp, fish sandwiches, clam strips, and clam chowder. They even provided promotions reminiscent of 4 burgers for a greenback or twelve burgers for a greenback, making it a preferred alternative for households.
Memorable Places and Anecdotes
Some memorable places included one in Fall River on President Avenue and two in New Bedford owned by Michael Panagakos, with one on Buy Road. One other was at 520 Southern Artery in Quincy, which opened in 1965 and was bought by Mel Werman in 1975. This Quincy location skilled a fireplace in 1976 however reopened later that yr with a grand celebration that includes state Sen. Arthur Tobin and providing cheeseburgers for 25 cents.
Howdy Beef n’ Burger Restaurant Places
I’ve tracked down the addresses of twenty-two of the 27 Howdy Beef n’ Burger restaurant places. I’m hoping somebody may need a listing with the remainder of them.
Connecticut
| Handle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 447 Predominant Road | East Hartford |
| 262 Route 12 | Groton |
Maine
| Handle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 329 Predominant Road | Bangor |
| 11 Elm Road | Biddeford |
| 512 Canal Road | Lewiston |
| 1209 Forest Avenue | Portland |
| 262 Predominant Road | South Portland |
Massachusetts
| Handle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| Gallivan Boulevard | Dorchester |
| 140 Water Road | Fitchburg |
| 264 Waverly Road Route 135 | Framingham |
| 290 Worcester Highway | Framingham |
| 211 Winter Road | Haverhill |
| 516 Dutton Road | Lowell |
| Buy Road | New Bedford |
| Rockdale Avenue | New Bedford |
| 520 Southern Artery | Quincy |
| 507 Broadway | Saugus |
| 19 Veterans’ Blvd Rte 44 | Taunton |
| 1345 VFW Parkway | West Roxbury |
| 187 Cambridge Highway | Woburn |
New Hampshire
| Handle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 125 South Predominant Road | Harmony |
| 203 Lowell Highway | Hudson |
| 189 West Road | Kenne |
| 234 Elm Road | Manchester |
| 200 Temple Road | Nashua |
| Handle Unknown | Salem |
Vermont
| Handle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 26 Japanese Avenue | St. Johnsbury |
Cultural Impression
The Howdy Beef n’ Burger chain left a long-lasting cultural impression on those that ate there and is fondly remembered for its catchy jingle:
Howdy Beefburger Drive-ins Serve up tasty treats.
Beefburgers made with simply the best meats.
Howdy Beefburger Drive-Ins, drive proper up and get
Speedy speedy speedy service and the most effective beefburgers but.
Prospects nostalgically recall phrases like “Howdy, might I enable you?” and the enjoyment of clipping coupons for burger offers. The model additionally created a way of neighborhood and household enjoyable by giving kids Howdy Doody buttons with their meals.
Decline and Legacy
By the top of the Seventies, the Howdy Beef n’ Burger chain had declined, with many places bought to different franchises reminiscent of McDonald’s and Wendy’s. The Quincy location, for instance, was changed by a Wendy’s in August 1979. Regardless of its eventual closure, Howdy Beef n’ Burger stays a cherished reminiscence for a lot of who skilled its distinctive mix of quick meals and nostalgic appeal throughout its heyday.