Swensons

Swensons Drive-In is an Ohio and Indiana drive-in restaurant chain with locations in the Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Youngstown areas, along with the Indianapolis area. Swensons' signature hamburger is the Galley Boy, a double cheeseburger prepared using two sauces,[1][2] and the restaurant also purveys 18 different milkshakes.[1]

Not to be confused with Swensen's.
Swensons Drive In Restaurants
TypePrivate
IndustryFast Food
Founded1934 (1934) in Akron, Ohio
FoundersWesley T. "Pop" Swenson
HeadquartersAkron, Ohio
Number of locations
20 (2023)
Area served
Greater Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Youngstown, Ohio as well as Greater Indianapolis, Indiana
ProductsBurgers
Number of employees
800
Websiteswensonsdriveins.com

History

Wesley T. "Pop" Swenson started selling hamburgers at Buchtel High School out of a station wagon in 1933. In 1934, he opened a restaurant on South Hawkins Avenue in Akron, near West Market Street. Swenson sold the restaurant in 1949 to Robert Phillips, who began expansion in 1952 with a second location in North Akron on East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue.[3] Other locations include Stow (1987), Montrose (1995), Jackson Township, Seven Hills (2001), North Canton, University Heights (2017), North Olmsted (2018), Avon (2018) and Willoughby (July 2021[4]).[5][6] Expansion of the chain into the Columbus area is complete with locations in Dublin, New Albany, Columbus, and Hilliard.[7][8] Swensons expanded to Indiana with Avon opening February 6, 2023.

Reception
  • Forbes noted Swenson's as "America's Best Burger" in 1999.[9]

On an episode of The Food Network's series Food Feuds entitled Beef Feuds, Swensons was pitted against the Skyway drive-in in the Akron suburb of Fairlawn for best double cheeseburger in the Akron area.[10] Celebrity fans include Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, actor Matt Lanter, and basketball player LeBron James.[11]

References
  1. Eaton, Dan (December 4, 2017). "Swensons to Columbus? There is a site near Dublin - Columbus". Columbus Business First. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  2. Stern, J.; Stern, M. (2014). Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 900 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More, now in its 9th edition. Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. p. pt512. ISBN 978-0-7704-3453-3. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  3. Thompson, Lynne (2001-10-23). "A day at the drive-in". Smart Business. Cleveland, Ohio: Smart Business Network, Incorporated.
  4. Hlavaty, Kaylyn (July 19, 2021). "Swensons Drive-in brings its signature galley boy and milkshakes to Willoughby". News 5 (WEWS-TV). Cleveland, Ohio: Scripps Media.
  5. "Story | Ohio Drive-In Established in 1934 | Swenatics". Swensons Drive-In. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  6. Sega, Lauren (December 6, 2017). "Akron's Popular Drive-In Swensons Eyes Columbus for New Location". Columbus Underground. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  7. Malone, J. D. (July 16, 2018). "Swensons plans second central Ohio drive-in near Ikea at Polaris". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  8. Corvo, Kevin (June 5, 2018). "Developers hope to open Swensons near J.W. Reason in Hilliard". ThisWeek. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  9. "Swensons Cheeseburger | Galley Boy | Akron, Ohio Drive In Restaurant". Swensons Drive In Restaurants. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  10. Symon, Michael (2010-12-02). "Beef Feuds". Food Feuds. Season 1. Episode 8. Food Network. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  11. Eaton, Dan (November 30, 2016). "Fans of a northeast Ohio drive-in chain getting some good news". Columbus Business First.
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