Regardless that I used to be conversant in Howdy Doody, I had no thought {that a} Howdy Beef n’ Burger existed. Then I believed it might need been a one-shop tester till I learn there have been twenty-seven places at their peak within the Nineteen Seventies.
The entire Howdy Beef n’ Burgers had been positioned in New England, which is sensible since I tracked down franchise adverts in Bangor, Maine; Portland, Maine; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire newspapers.
I did have fairly a couple of Howdy Beef n’ Burgers objects 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 Nineteen Sixties by William Rosenberg, the identical entrepreneur who based Dunkin’ Donuts. Impressed by the favored youngsters’s tv present Howdy Doody, which aired from 1947 to 1960, Rosenberg aimed to create a singular eating expertise combining basic burgers’ attraction with a contact of nostalgic appeal.
Origins and Enlargement
The primary Howdy Beef n’ Burger restaurant shortly gained traction as soon as it opened in 1965. The chain’s preliminary progress was centered round Boston, however it will definitely expanded to incorporate at the very least 27 places throughout New England. A major 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, supplied breakfast choices and lunch or dinner fare, maximizing buyer comfort and rising profitability. Clients might 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 Massive “B” (their model of the Massive Mac or Whopper), roast beef sandwiches, fried rooster plates, and seafood dishes together with haddock, shrimp, fish sandwiches, clam strips, and clam chowder. They even supplied promotions resembling 4 burgers for a greenback or twelve burgers for a greenback, making it a well-liked 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 Avenue. 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 hearth 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 might need a listing with the remainder of them.
Connecticut
| Tackle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 447 Major Avenue | East Hartford |
| 262 Route 12 | Groton |
Maine
| Tackle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 329 Major Avenue | Bangor |
| 11 Elm Avenue | Biddeford |
| 512 Canal Avenue | Lewiston |
| 1209 Forest Avenue | Portland |
| 262 Major Avenue | South Portland |
Massachusetts
| Tackle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| Gallivan Boulevard | Dorchester |
| 140 Water Avenue | Fitchburg |
| 264 Waverly Avenue Route 135 | Framingham |
| 290 Worcester Highway | Framingham |
| 211 Winter Avenue | Haverhill |
| 516 Dutton Avenue | Lowell |
| Buy Avenue | 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
| Tackle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 125 South Major Avenue | Harmony |
| 203 Lowell Highway | Hudson |
| 189 West Avenue | Kenne |
| 234 Elm Avenue | Manchester |
| 200 Temple Avenue | Nashua |
| Tackle Unknown | Salem |
Vermont
| Tackle | Metropolis |
|---|---|
| 26 Jap 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 perfect beefburgers but.
Clients nostalgically recall phrases like “Howdy, could I show you how to?” and the enjoyment of clipping coupons for burger offers. The model additionally created a way of neighborhood and household enjoyable by giving youngsters Howdy Doody buttons with their meals.
Decline and Legacy
By the tip of the Nineteen Seventies, the Howdy Beef n’ Burger chain had declined, with many places offered to different franchises resembling 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.