Ever since cars became ‘classic’, people have enjoyed sharing them with others. “Cars and coffee” events today invite those interested to bring their cars and share stories. In the early days after World War II, the nation picked itself up and decided to hit the road. Young people especially enjoyed the freedom that automobiles brought.

While wandering the roads was not a destination, finding good food was, and the birth of the ‘drive-in’ restaurant allowed young people a wonderful place to show off their sweethearts, their cars, and their prowess all while grabbing a great burger, fries, and milkshake.

Petaluma, like many U.S. cities re-shaped themselves to meet this new trend for ‘hitting the road’.

One location, the corner of Third and I streets – currently, Century 21 Realty – as a popular drive-in that changed ownership several times over the years.   

Quinleys, built in 1946, quickly became a popular hang-out; what with popular young women as carhops, ready to deliver food directly to the car. It was purchased by Holly Heglin in 1948 and became known as “Hollie’s Drive-in”.

When the owners of Hollie’s went into business with the Quinleys elsewhere in 1957, Milt and Betty Lund took over Hollie’s drive-in, changing its name to Lund’s

Lund’s took over their drive-in building and was welcomed by all as a dining destination.

Not strictly a drive-in, one could order a “Merchant’s Lunch” or dinner every day, and a Sunday dinner from 12 noon. Easter dining was offered, and on their one-year anniversary, they served extra-large plates of fried chicken – at a cost of one dollar for adults and 75 cents for kids under 12.

($11 and $8 today).   

 Argus Courier April 12, 1957, and

April 11, 1958.

Meanwhile, further up north on Redwood Highway North (later Petaluma Blvd North) another location – currently Enterprise Car Rental – housed a variety of drive-in restaurants. Starting with Roost, in 1948, it was taken over a few years later and became ‘the’ place to go, as Jack and Connie’s. It was inviting with its swoopy futuristic look. 

These drive-ins were excellent locations to bring your car to be seen for selling or purchasing. As hang-outs for teens they were places to see and ‘be seen’. This “car culture’ grew alongside the complimentary rise of television, ‘beat’ music, and rock ‘n’ roll; setting the stage for exciting times.

Other hangouts opened, and teenagers flocked to them during school lunch hour. Local teens could walk from school. Sim Swartz remembers the many trips he and his friends took, walking downtown during lunch break at school to PDQ, “where one could get -for no extra money! - a huge scoop of delicious chili added to any hamburger. “

Foster’s Freeze was another hangout during school lunch breaks as well as after school or dates.  Owners Mr. and Mrs. Harry Graham saw the need for “a drive-in featuring milk products”.  Built in the late 1940s on Mc Near land previously known as the “Corporation Yard” the old tenants made way for the “march of time and the modern drive-in”. Customers could get sundaes, malts, milkshakes, root beer floats and more, all served from their serving windows.  Sim states that “The peach milkshakes there were the best.”

In the early 1950s the Argus Courier ran a series of advertisements featuring famous actors enjoying their Foster’s Freeze ice cream. 

Argus Courier Oct 27, 1949.

Argus Courier Nov 29, 1949

Argus Courier Sept 21, 1949

I would be remiss, according to those that know, should I forget to include the Snack Bar. Located at the corner of Lakeville (then called Hopper St) and East D Street, the Snack Bar was affectionately called the “Snarf and Barf. Both Sim Schartz and Harlan Osborne remember, as Sim says: “When they (teens)  were old enough to drive, they’d head to PDQ or over a little bit to the Snarf and Barf - the Snack Bar -  where the burgers and fries would turn the wrapping paper completely translucent from all the oil. “

While the A & W at 501 E. Washington started out in the 1950s as “Hansen’s A&W Root Beer Drive-in”, it was sold to Philip Joerger in 1959, becoming “Phil’s A & W”. It wasn’t until Dan and Kathryn O’Brien along with Dan’s brother James that “O’Brien’s A&W Root Beer” really took off. O’Brien’s  A & W drive-in provided a new place for families to visit and get a refreshing root beer along with the exciting “poor boy” sandwich: a 10 inch sandwich filled with meats, cheese, pickles and relishes.  1960, Harry Hall, author of the Argus Courier series “Going Places with Harry Hall” took a deep dive into the satisfying taste of root beer and was especially pleased that one could take home their fill of the delicious drink in gallon containers.

As the years went by, the concept of a drive-in spot was fading. But there was hope that a blast from the past might bring new customers who remembered the freedom the drive-in offered. As part of a proposed shopping center on the north side of town, at the corner of Petaluma Blvd North and Payran Street, the Sonic drive-in was completed (after mitigating worries of loitering, littering, and traffic) and opened In March 1989.

But alas, the drive-in concept was indeed beginning to wane, and it closed its doors in 1995. 

 The last remnants of the drive-in culture were seen in Petaluma with Foster’s Freeze and PDQ continuing the tradition. When the 19 cents PDQ sign went down in 1992 at the directive of the City, generations of Petalumans reminisced about their young adult hangouts and how central they were to their social lives. The new Quinley’s (1994)  was opened as an homage to the owner’s parents who met and socialized at the PDQ when they were young as well as to his grandfather, Alvin Quinley who built the PDQ back in ’52.

Quinley’s closed up shop in July of 2004. The Walnut Grill opened shortly afterward, but closed in 2020. Rumors abound about what will happen next to this lovely, iconic building.  

Want to learn more about 1950s and 60s Petaluma? Check out the current Museum exhibit, "Celebrating 50 years of ‘American Graffiti’: where were you in ’62?” 

And if you’re in the neighborhood, come on by the Petaluma Library to peruse a copy of Third St Petaluma by George Baur. Chock full of pictures of Petaluma car culture as it impacted dining, racing, teenage life, and more. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

Terry Park. Petaluma Drive-in Restaurants. Petaluma Museum Association Newsletter. Summer/Fall 2019

Osborne, Harlin. “Snack Bar”. Argus Courier. March 7, 2019. Reprinted from 2003.

Osborne, Harlin. “Lund’s Drive-in was the place to be seen in 1950s Petaluma”. Argus Courier, August 22, 2019. Reprinted from August 2007.  : https://www.petaluma360.com/article/entertainment/lunds-drive-in-was-the-place-be-seen-in-1950s-petaluma/

Thank you to John Sheehy for oversight and editing.  (However…all mistakes are my own!).