Dean’s in Blairsville Pennsylvania is a classic 1950′s diner. A Fodero, to be more exact. Opened for business in 1953. The diner car part of the restaurant seemed very original. There is an addition wrapped around the original stainless steel diner car. So when they are busy there are plenty of tables to be had in the add-on dining area.  

I loved the place for its 1950′s autenticity. I had a cheesburger plate and it was just fine. Pie was even better. Wait staff, dressed in white uniforms, was friendly and professional.     

For a more complete account of the history of Dean’s Diner, see this article on the Pittsburg Post-Gazette web site. The article is a few years old. I’m sure the place is no longer for sale. It may be for sale again by now, but it doesn’t really matter because whoever is running the business now has maintained the property and the food and the staff that made Dean’s a standout joint in the first place.

Where

2175 Route 22 Hwy W
Blairsville, PA 15717-1270
(724) 459-9600

 Map

 
Storm’s in Lampasas opened for business in 1950. This place was originally called the Dairy Cue. They sold soft-serve ice cream, but hamburgers were also on the menu. The business grew all through the 1950′s, and the awnings and speaker system were added during this time.

Storm’s in Lampasas is a drive-in. No indoor dining room. They do have a very nice outdoor patio. You can order from the patio and they will bring your food out to you.

They still grind their own hamburger meat and make the french fries from fresh-cut potatoes. The hamburger patties are thin. That seems to be popular with these 1950′s burger joints. Consider ordering a double meat burger or better yet the Storm’s Special.

Storm’s in Lampasas is a great example of a 1950′s drive-in. The old awnings, the menu boxes, and the speaker system are all, well, old.  The provenance of this place is unquestionable. The same family has run the joint since the day they opened in 1950. The place has an authentic 1950′s feel to it. Good burgers, by the way. Give it a try, next time your in Lampasas Texas.

Map to Storm’s

Description From The Publisher

Texans are passionate about this signature sandwich, and photographer/writer Rick Vanderpool has become, in his own right, the Hambassador of Texas. In 2006, Rick undertook a quest to find and photograph the best Texas burgers, traveling over eleven thousand miles and visiting over seven hundred Texas burger joints. Since that time, he has continued his travels, sampling the finest the Lone Star State has to offer. He’s also picked up some fellow enthusiasts willing to share their own tasty tales along the way. From Fletcher Davis’s 1885 Athens creation (recipe included) and the Cheeseburger Capital of Texas in Friona to Whataburger #2 in Corpus Christi and Herd’s in Jacksboro, join Rick and his “Hamburger Helpers” on their journey celebrating the history of the original Texas hamburger.

More Info

The book starts out by painting a picture of the origins of the hamburger in Texas. There are several chapters dedicated to hamburger history. Rick’s research was quite broad going way beyond historical facts. Part of the brilliance of the book is that it contains so many stories, descriptions, and recommendations from people located all across the state of Texas. How else can one person write a book about Texas hamburgers? I learned this years ago: when traveling the best advice for places to eat usually comes from the locals.  Rick incorporated plenty of advice from many friends and acquaintances to write a book full of information on burger joints from across the state of Texas. This book is fun, informative and a valuable resource.

Texas hamburger joint enthusiasts will want to read “The Texas Hamburger: History of a Lone Star Icon”. This text could end up being a classic resource book for Texas road trip travelers. I guess it’s my practical side that makes me see things this way–beyond the art and prose of the author, this book is a road trip journal and potential resource for any of you charting the less-traveled byways and destinations.

Check out the Facebook page and you can buy a signed copy of the book here. 

Note: Image of cover art provided by and Copyright (c) Rick Vanderpool.

Loco Coyote Grill near Glen Rose Texas

This is definately not your typical city barbecue place. No, it’s more like a down-a-country-road barbecue place located in rural Somervell County Texas, and just close enough to Glen Rose to call it home. Started by a family with a long history in the barbecue business; cold beer, great barbecue, irregular business hours; a true classic among eclectic Texas barbecue joints.

Don’t let appearances or the location fool you, this place is a popular road trip destination for folks out riding the country roads of Somervell County.

Where

1795 County Road 1004
Glen Rose, TX 76043

Driving from Glen Rose: from the intersection of Highway 67 and Park Road 205, go west 7.2 miles, turn right on County Road 1004, and Loco Coyote will be on the left a few tenths of a mile down the road.

Coming from the west, it’s a mile or two past the Somervell County Road Side Park. County Road 1004 will be on your left. There’s a sign for the Loco Coyote, and there’s also another barbecue place across from County Road 1004 on Highway 67 that has a red-white-n-blue Texas flag painted on the roof.

For more information about the Glen Rose area see our Glen Rose Texas Guide.

Gallery

No one seemed to know for sure, but I’m guessing there’s been a drug store at this location for a long time. City Drug has been owned and operated by the Hammond family since 1960. One of the owners told me the store has been basically the same since 1960. She told me, at some point in the past the soda fountain and counter were swapped from one side of the store to the other, but not much else has changed over the several decades since the 1960′s.

City Drug definitely has the look of the 1960′s. Formica counter tops in period colors rather than marble. Bright stainless steel back counter and fixtures rather than dark wood. As you walk in the front door the lunch counter and soda fountain are on the right and a display case and some retail shelves are on the left. Beyond the counter is an area to the right with six quaint little wooden booths. Mirrored walls and some charming old soda shop signage decorate this area. As you head further back into the store it’s a classic (and busy) drug store.

Oh, I almost forgot. City Drug in Jacksboro Texas was a Rexall drug store and still displays much of its original Rexall signage. See some of the pictures for examples.

I had a cheeseburger and a milkshake — both were good. Service was good. Place was squeaky clean; so clean that you notice clean.

There’s some subtle difference here in Jacksboro and in other small towns like it in rural Texas. Big box retailers are noticeably absent. Passed over by retail progress, the nearest Walmart is 25 miles away. I’ll let you decide if that’s good or bad, but the end result is that long standing local institutions like the corner drug store still exist. The community is still unique, its culture still intact, and if you pay attention, you just might notice the difference.

What’s Close By

Fort Richardson State Park is  just outside Jacksboro. A frontier fort established in 1867, today interesting for the remnants of frontier life and the trails within the park.

Location

City Drug
104 East Belknap St.
Jacksboro, TX 76458
Corner of Belknap & Main, On the Square

County: Jack
Map

Copyright © 2009 by Sam Fenstermacher
All rights reserved

Clown Hamburgers, Clown Burger for short is located at the intersection of Haltom Road and Stanley Keller Road in Haltom City Texas. The place is truly nothing fancy. The business has a long history in Haltom City, established in 1959 by George & Mary Stafford. Bill, the current owner and cook, has been working this business since 1963, using the original grill, and doing business pretty much the same way.

The place was really busy the day I was there and I didn’t take interior pictures. I’d describe it as an old hamburger stand with a bunch of clown memorabilia thrown in. Lots of kid pictures on the walls from children’s sports leagues owner Bill Louthan has sponsored over the years.

This place is different, but different is what makes it good. Don’t think that this is some crusty place with no following. At noon on Tuesday the customers were just about lined up out the door.  Service was quick though and it didn’t take that long to order. Prices are real reasonable, too.

The burgers were, well, I’ll call it old school. The hamburger patty is thin but fairly large so it covers a big bun nicely. The meat seemed lean because the burger wasn’t greasy and the garden items (pickle, lettuce, tomato) were dry. It really made for a good tasty hot hamburger. If you like a thick burger you should order the double or triple meat burgers. Like I said prices are so low. They claim to peel fresh potatoes for the french fries every day. Different and good.

I liked the place and I’ll go back, probably not at noon though. I would like to talk to the owner about the history of the place and get his take on 45 years in the burger business.

Some burger places in DFW are so storied that you have food critics from the Metroplex newspapers debating which one is the best and giving awards for best burger in DFW. What nonsense. But you know what, I shouldn’t be such a cynic. Some people just naturally want to rate things and create stars: winners and losers. Me, I like places like this that have good food, service to match, and that have been a gather place for friends and neighbors for decades.

Location

Clown Hamburgers
5020 Stanley Keller Rd.
Haltom City, Texas 76117

County: Tarrant
Map

Copyright © 2009 by Sam Fenstermacher
All rights reserved

I got off Highway 183 at Irving Blvd, which is highway 356, by the way, drove along for a while and came to the Irving Heritage District. Have to admit I didn’t know it was there. It’s the old part of Irving Texas where the town was founded. The Heritage District is an interesting side story, but your going to have to write that chapter yourself. They have a web site if your interested.

Big State Drug is at the intersection of Main Street and Irving Boulevard, one block from the birthplace of Irving. The place has been in busienss since 1948. The red and blue neon signs outside was a pleasant surprise. Once inside, the place said 1950′s to me. Big State Drug hasn’t changed much. That’s on purpose they told me and they intend to keep the place just like it is for a while longer. Business in the pharmacy is good plus they sell over the counter remedies and home medical equipment. Kind of like an old drug store if you can remember that far back.

What I went there for in the first place was the soda fountain. They make ice cream confections with Blue Bell Ice Cream and do quite a lot of breakfast and lunch business. The place has a real vintage feel. I’m not a real big fan of fancy and this place isn’t. It is a classic old lunch counter. They have the counter with old fashioned round stools and booths on both sides–with purple upholstery no less.

Big State seems to have a lot of regular customers that know each other and like to visit. Sheryl, my waitress, claimed to have worked there for 10 years. The cook, Leland, has 8 years to his credit. I noticed a 2006 article from D-Magazine on the wall, framed, giving him the nod for outstanding chili in the DFW Metroplex.

The atmosphere was friendly but not intrusive. None of that cheery crap like at franchised places. Just the important stuff: Is your food good? Do you need anything? You know, real service, not some crap cooked up by the marketing department at the corporate office in New Jersey. And, yes the food was good.

Go see the old neon signs. Eat if your hungry. Look around for a few minutes in the Heritage District. Enjoy the uniqueness of the moment. On most days, that’s as good as it gets.

Location

100 E Irving Blvd
Irving, TX 75060

County: Dallas

map

Copyright © 2009 by Sam Fenstermacher
All rights reserved