Thursday, July 30, 2015

Brief Encounters - Happy Days Dairy Bar

By Joann M. Ringelstetter

In May of 2013, on a photography trip to the beautiful state of Ohio, we drove through the small village of Bethel. On the outskirts of town, we passed a brightly colored drive-in called the Happy Days Dairy Bar. And out by the street was a statue of a hot dog squirting ketchup and mustard on himself. So we pulled over and I grabbed my camera to take a picture of this silly hot dog.

As I snapped my pictures, the owner came out and explained that the drive-in was recently renovated and they were hoping to open for the summer season. He told me how he had acquired the hot dog statue and also the vintage car driven by Elvis that was adorning the front of the building. I wished him good luck with his new business and we went on our way.


A quick Google search today revealed that the drive-in had some bad reviews in 2013 and their Facebook page now says, “Permanently Closed.” Hopefully, this wonderful little drive-in will get new owners (or maybe it already has) because it would be a shame to lose this nostalgic drive-in.

Happy Shunpiking!
Joann

2 comments:

  1. Who wouldn't want to go to a place called the Happy Days Dairy Bar? Both my kids are ready to go there after seeing your photo!

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  2. I also hope that someone else took it over. My husband I use to stop at the A&W Drive-In on Golden Lake on Hwy. 18, when we would go to the Zoo in Milwaukee. Sad, now I believe it is gone.

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