What Happened to Sandy's Drive In? 

Grew up in Central Illinois. Although Sandy's was long gone by the time I arrived on Earth, we had many of the old larger Sandy's buildings in the region that had become Hardee's. The angled glass windows, globe light fixtures, and brown formica wood interiors. I remember it like yesterday. Thanks for the memories, and this interesting story.

I'm here because of Sandy's, literally. My parents met there when my Dad was with his friend who ran into a girl he knew who had her friend (my Mom) with her. They got to talking and about a year later they were married.

Thanks for the great memories. I worked at the Sandy's in Canton IL, 1968-1970, I worked opening day. It was a big deal for the town at that time. Crazy busy for grand opening. On one of our first days, we cranked out over 600 burgers in one 2 hour period. We ran batches of 56 or 64. Sandy's was a blessing to us 16 year-old's who wanted to work. Before Sandy's there were precious few jobs available for high school kids. I was happy to work my tail off for my $1.25 per hour. My first week I put in 64 hours, the following week 56 hours. Still have my pay stubs to prove it, which I use occasionally to annoy my son. This, of course would not ( and should not) be allowed today.

I worked at Sandy's in North Hills of Pittsburgh in early 1970s. They closed the store in 1973 and offered us jobs at the North Side Hardee's. Most people I know don't remember Sandy's. It was nice to see this history explained. Thanks.

When McDonald's came to my hometown, Muscatine Iowa, we went to the grand opening. My mom asked how I liked the food. I said "It ain't no Sandy's" . I miss their shakes the most of all.

Worked for Sandy's/Hardee's for 27 years. Began in the computer department of Sandy's in Kewanee. When Sandy's/Hardee's merged, all accounting went to Rocky Mt., N.C. At at that point I transferred to marketing and was the marketing manager that led the marketing efforts for t.v., radio, newspaper, outdoor, etc. to convert the Peoria market from Sandy's to Hardee's. Worked the marketing area for the Illinois, Iowa...midwest area for sometime; then, accepted the marketing area for Minnesota, Wisconsin, parts of Iowa, Montana, etc. Lots of good people, lots of great customers and great food. The people that worked for Sandy's/Hardeee's believed in their company and the Christian way they did business and treated their employees and customers. One thing that I would like to point out..many of those pics you post while talking about Jack Laughery are not Jack Laughery. I cannot remember that person's name but I think he was in finance.

There was a Sandy’s next door to my fathers Sunoco station. I loved having lunch there. Monroeville, PA on Route 22 circa 1968

I went to a Catholic grade school that had no cafeteria or lunchroom. Every Wednesday was "hamburger day" and the burgers were from Sandy's.

We lived near the Galesburg Sandy's and always thought the food was way better than McDonalds. We tried McDonalds once right after they opened and laughed at the horrible little pucks they called hamburgers. We missed Sandy's when we moved to Virginia in 1968. Always wondered what happened to them.

The Sandee's in Billings, Montana has reopened, owned and operated by the daughter of the former owner and her husband. They just recently bought a store front establishment after running two food trucks for a couple of years (they are still also using the food trucks).

I grew up in Quincy, Illinois. We had 3 Sandys locations at one time. And then that other chain took over. And it was not for the better. Later in my life, I married a girl from Kewanee. My daughters still live there. Sandys corporate headquarters is now a church.....R.I.P. Sandys..

I was born in Tulsa OK in 1963 and lived there until 1971. I remember eating at Sandy's. I don't think I actually saw a McDonald's until my family moved to Florida.

I grew up in Peoria, and frequently went to the Sheridan Road Sandy’s across from Sheridan Village shopping center. I always thought the Big Scot was much better than the Big Mac. My older brother worked there soon, I believe, after the store opened. He later worked at a store in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Hi I was a little boy long time ago I grew up with Sandy I live in Hannibal Missouri and we have three Sandy but they changed to Hardee's I remember Sandy and Hardee's now they're call Carl jr. Keep up the good work I enjoy this thank you bye bye

Great story. Thanks. The architecture was incredible. I was born in late 1963 and do not recall these. We lived in Milwaukee and then a Chicago burb in 71, so, I wonder if we drove by some on the way to Florida every Spring. What I miss more than anything is Howard' Johnson's and especially their restaurants. Speaking of your Decatur, I interviewed for a high school teaching position at one of the two high schools... Eisenhower, I believe. It was rough. Prior to that, as a teacher in training went to Decatur for the state FBLA conference. It was nice.

Had one in the neighborhood that we enjoyed for years. Finally bought out and turned into a “Professor’s” sandwich shop in mid-late 70’s. Was a great place. We enjoyed it over the couple of red and white McDonalds places nearby.

I would love to see a story on the rise and fall of Hardee's. Seems like they are just hanging on by a 'shoestring'. 3 of the 6 Hardee's stores in my home town of Evansville, Indiana have closed within the last couple of years. I like Hardee's food but am leery of the sanitary condition of the remaining stores. Thank for the great story about Sandy's. Sandy's was part of my teenage years of the late 60's and early 70's.

Yes. I grew up in Western Pennsylvania with a Sandy’s on the way to my oof Catholic school. Another tristate fast food joint was Winky’s which closed in the early eighties. That would make a good video.

I rarely went to the Sandy’s in Decatur, Illinois as a boy, but it was on Eldorado a few blocks east of Fairview Park and such, and I went past it thousands of times. In 2014-17 I visited Decatur a lot as my parents had to move into the nursing home where they spent their last years, and the Hardee’s at the old location was where I bought Mom burgers as a treat (eventually she refused to eat any) and sometimes had breakfast or dinner myself.

The closest Sandy's to me was in Herrin, Il, next door to Energy. It was a Generation 4 restaurant, and changed to Hardee's in the late 70's along with the rest of the chain.

What an amazing and detailed history of Sandy's! I remember well our family frequenting the south Fort Worth, TX location in the 1960s. I've not driven past it recently, but as of a few years ago the original building still stood, having been converted into a laundromat.

Had a Sandy's on Macarthur Blvd in Springfield, Illinois growing up. We had split shift for high school so we would go there for lunch 3-5 days a week. The Big Scott was my all time favorite. Miss that sandwich. I saw a post of the secret slaw sauce online, I might have to try it.

Got to take exception with what you say was Sandy's personal touch. In 1969, I got my first job at a new McDonald's. The night before our grand opening, an old man from Chicago, offered to treat me and two of my co-workers to a "free" milkshake. We kind of laughed since we could get all the milkshakes we could drink, for free. Well, we joined him out front (outside) and he talked to us for about a half an hour. That was the night I spent personal time with Ray Kroc.

Hello, Great video!! I'm from Scotland, and i was rather surprised and happy in regards to the Scottish theme. Nice one :)

Hi Troy (Restaurant Rewind)! First, thank you for making these videos; I've enjoyed several of your Restaurant Rewind videos. You asked if anyone wanted to see a Hardee's video, and I definitely would. I was born and raised in North Carolina, and so was Hardee's. I've seen it change firsthand and have also read their Wikipedia page. However, you may have a wee bit more information than I've been able to dig up. Keep up the videos! The only bad thing is when they make me want a burger whenever I watch! ;)

The Sandy's at 7:01 was a Louisville, KY location that went on to become Indy's, a local fried chicken favorite.

I fondly remember the Sandy's in Fortsmith Arkansas.

Thank you for preserving this near forgotten bit of history. I fondly remember dinners with my aunt, who would babysit me when I was 4 or 5 years old, at the Sandy's across the street from her college dorm in Winona, Minnesota, circa 1971. If it wasn't for their cool architecture, tartan decor, and sassy Scottish-inspired mascot I'm sure I would have forgotten all about it. This video brought back a flood of memories...I can almost taste those fries again. 😊

Thank you for the story, it was fascinating! When I was very young, my dad worked at the Sandy’s in Murrysville Pennsylvania, and moved up the ladder quickly. I know they saw great things on him. I remember my parents talking about Paul White, my mom said he committed suicide. I have always wondered if that’s true.

The amount of detail in these videos is amazing!

In the 1970s, A&Ws were drive in restaurants, Where I grew up in California, A&W had a big drive-in nearby

Wow, I'd forgotten about Sandy's until I came across your channel. Your videos are fantastic, thank you for sharing your hard work!

Born and raised in Kewanee. The corporate office is now a church. When hardees took over they covered the wood posts. The building is still there. It's now an Italian restaurant.

Thanks for your series. I grew up in small cities (?) in Iowa and Nebraska and we never had McDonald's but our Sandy's, Henry's and Dog n Suds made us feel like we were part of the progressive 60's. I think it was McD's and BK's massive TV advertising campaigns that did them all in. I also think that a lot of WWII vets who started franchises didn't pass them on to the next generation....too damn much work for the boomers.! I have made it to a couple of the remaining DnS and will one day make it to the Henry's in Michigan.

I ate at Sandy's very often. Was sad when they changed, dropped the name, changed the menu. I never got into the Hardees theme. One of the exact buildings you show is still there in Addison, Illinois. Now its a Mexican taco stand.

I remember riding my bicycle to Sandy's in our neighborhood back in the 70's...when I was like 10 yrs old.... All of us kids would go up and get free cups of water, and that was the norm.... which was a real treat while out on our bicycle excursions on those hot summer days in Kansas....and a nice upgrade from drinking out of garden hoses like we use to back in those days. Of course we would be back many times with our parents to get burgers and the staff at Sandys were just as friendly and knew all of kids from earlier, while we out and about on our bicycles.

In the 60's, my family would go to Jacksonville, Illinois to visit my grandmother and my aunts and uncles. We would, on occasion, go to the Sandy's on West Morton Ave. I always liked Sandy's. I was saddened by the change to Hardee's. I later moved to Illinois to both go to college (WIU) and work. Monmouth had a Sandy's that was also converted. One of my very best friends was the Ass't Manager of the Monmouth Hardee's. My wife and I later moved east of Kewanee. We drive by the original corporate office almost weekly about 1 1/2 miles south of Kewanee on US Route 34. That building has seen many alternative uses but still stands. It has been a church, a western store for clothing and boots and many other things over time. It is currently a computer repair business. It is still recognizable from the upslanted awning over the driveway and the inlayed modernistic artwork you show in the video at 16:32.

Another Burger franchise that was unknown in NYS....I'll always love those old-fashioned, stainless steel Drive-ins. Although the folks in Mamaroneck, NY, fought long & hard to keep their original McDonald's, the corporate gorillas prevailed in the early-1990's.

As a child in the late 60's after I would visit my dentist, my Mother and I would venture across the street to the "Sandy's" in Evansville IN. We visited the dentist often as I wore braces. That was my treat from my Mom and it was so good. Loved their burgers and fries ! I thought they were actually better than McDonald's.

Not familiar with most of these restaurants but I'm fascinated with your videos! They are really well done! Subscribed

I was born in 1967, so my Mom or Granny took me to Sandy's on Main St in Normal, near ISU, daily. I think it later became a Burger Chef(?) and then definitely a Hardees' by the 80s... and YES, I grew up on a versatile diet of fast food hotdogs, which McDonalds' was too elitist to sell! You snobs and you expensive hamburgers with cheese... pfhhh! All we had were hotdogs on toasted buns, AND WE WERE GRATEFUL! I walked up hill both ways to get that hotdog AND I WAS GRATEFUL! Kids these days! pfhhh... no appreciation for hard work... sorry, I'm 55 now and trying to sound like it! Out of my yard you god dam kids!!!

Thank you for this amazing history

I was mad when Hardee's took over all of the Sandy's in Springfield, Illinois. We went to Hardee's, during it's Grand Opening and other times over the years, just didn't like the way to the food tasted. I was a preteen and called it "Hard up's", when you're hard up (desperate) for food you go to Hardee's. I eventually, got over my bitterness. I loved the chicken and biscuits Hardee's sold. In our town, they stopped many years ago, but out of town, I found a Hardee's that still sold it. All of good Sandy's, the fries cooked in lard, delicious burgers, with real melted cheese. Also, the fish sandwiches the great milkshakes are gone. 😢😭

It's 4/10/19 and I just came across this vlog. I never knew about Sandy's but I grew up on Burger Chef. It was popular in my hometown of Fremont, OH. However, we lost another fantastic burger joint in Belleview, OH called Clancy's. Could you ck that out?

Oh I thought I was somethin because my name is Sandy. Wichita, Ks. We ate there lots of times, you didn't go in but ordered outside.

I miss Sandy's. McDonald's closest store was 100 miles away and didn't come to my town until the late 70's. Hardee's was okay but Sandy's still holds a place in my heart.

I miss the big Scott, long live Sandy's

Hello . I live in Ontatio Canada .. I remember Sandy's fondly . My parents would load the family into the car almost every aturday before we were off to the Drive-In theater . Our was only a Drive-in restaurant so no inside seating but sadly closed in 1976 still under the Sandy's name . We never did get a Hardee's here and considering the reviews probably a good thing . Thank-you for the video , a older family member and i were remanencing about my parents and the past so thought i would look it up .

We had a Sandy's in Mishawaka, IN before McD's showed up. Before any fast food was around except Dog and Suds (which was great), and also Burger Chef , which also unfortunately disappeared. The old man could get a bag of burgers for cheap and feed the whole family. The building was sold to Arby's, (not Hardee's) which is still their today

I remember back in the late 60's and early 70' the Sandy's in Smyrna Ga. They had great burgers and fry's. Now I know what happened to them.

I came across your channel looking for recipes for cheese frenchies, from the old King Host Foods restaurants that's another great story, keep up the good work, they should teach this in schools. Also my name is Troy ☺

The Sheridan Road Sandee's was where I had my very first fast-food hamburger (and coke) when my parents took me there. Alas, it and the Bergner's -centered Sheridan Village shopping center right across the street have disappeared.

I remember the Sandys in a shopping court parking lot in Hillside Illinois just outside Chicago. It maybe the first fast food I ever went to. It closed up and became a Playback Stereo store. Some plaid even remained. Playback was doomed also. Nothing remains. The lot became an Auto Nation car lot. Another doomed venture.

I grew up only a few miles from the first McDonald's in Elmhurst, IL, and we ate there sometimes from the day it opened. I also grew up about six blocks away from the first Portillo's hot dog wagon, which opened the year I was born. It is now a chain, where I still love the hot dogs, but Sandy's was my favorite. My mother frequently took me to one a couple of miles away from home, with that Scottish dancing girl sign highly visible from the Eisenhower expressway. I always ordered the cheese sandwich, and although I still often eat cheese sandwiches, no one seems to have them on the menu. I don't know why. Sandy's is just another one of those great places that disappeared.

My friend's father owned a Sandy's in Addison IL and a few of my friends worked there. After high school I worked as a garbage man which helped pay for my college expenses. I picked up the garbage for Portillo's Hot Dog's. Please consider doing a presentation of the business structure of Portillo's

I have great memories of the one in Peoria, Ill., early 60's on McClure ave. Couldn't wait for Dad to bring home that burger, frie, and a shake. Yum!

I grew up a few blocks from the Peoria Sandy's on Sheridan. I thought their burgers and fries were the best in town and there was a lot of competition in Peoria for good burgers. We had A & W, McDonald's, Luis drive in, Emo's drive in, Hunt's and a lot of other places to get a hamburger. I was in there about a week after that location changed to Hardee's and thought it was not very good and probably never went back in there. Still don't eat at Hardee's except for a breakfast every now and then.

Sometime in the late 60's early 70's my dad was poised to manage the new Sandee's inTulsa, OK. They had a grand opening with a bagpipe group and souvenirs for customers. I have most of a case of glass tumblers with the sand piper embossed in color on one side.

Yes...Earl Nightingale - the speaker motivator. My mom loved to hear on the radio his weekly encouragements, like I had loved to hear "Paul Harvey...Good Day!" (I just tried to find the book that Nightingale wrote back in the 1960's that I bought back in the 1980's...Can't find it. Dang!) Anyway... I don't remember the Sandy's Drive-Ins in Indy. But, isn't somewhat amazing that at least three of the documentaries on this RU-vid site ("Restaurant Rewind") came from the Midwest U.S.A. ~ McDonald's , Burger Chef & Sandy's. Goes to show...the very usual life time of restaurant chains and even restaurants that are more or less, independent, not a chain operated establishment...just don't last. Yes...some "success stories" and some chain places still stand, but...that's business in the world pretty much: They come, and, they go.

Great historical informational upload, thank you. I live near the 1st McDonalds, a 20-minute drive for me. I casually drive around southern Illinois and find those Sandy's buildings once in a while.

Those buildings look so cool!

Loved the hi-lo and the 19 cent burgers shame the were bought out by Karl’s!

Hello Troy and thanks for the great video! I have a question: is there a complete list of all known Sandy's locations compiled ANYWHERE on the internet??? I can't seem to find one. I was born in 1959 and remember going to Sandy's (and McDonald's of course) in Decatur, Illinois. We lived around the Blue Mound /Boody area but did most of our shopping in Decatur. On a few occasions we ate out (mostly at drive ins) so it was a great treat for us kids. In 1969 we moved to Tucson, Arizona and I remember there were several Sandy's locations there also. Years later, we moved back to Illinois (Mount Vernon, this time) in 1977 and there was a Sandy's location there (of which I have not found mentioned on any of the webpages with info on the Sandy's chain or photos I could find). The Mount Vernon IL location was at 1918 W. Broadway St. and it switched to Hardees sometime in the 1977-1979 period. It is now (Sept 2023) a used car lot (Auto Mart).

We had a Sandy's in the town where I live, and once it closed another local restaurant took it over, and then it became a Tumbleweed. A few years ago they had an explosion and fire that leveled the building. When we were on a school field trip we went to Sandy's after we had seen all the sights, I thought the food was superior to other fast food places.

Yes, Hardee's/Carl Jr's. Would be great!

There was a Sandy's in Knoxville Iowa. They were the first national Fast Food chain there after A&W Root beer drive-in there. I still remember Sandy's and when Hardee's took over the building site. Sandy's was always awesome for a kid. Knoxville was a small town at the time, located in south central Iowa. It was a big deal!

Going out to eat at Sandy's in Denton, Tx was a real treat and rare that we got to go there. I don't recall it becoming a Hardee's, think it just closed.

Wonderful video, very informative, thank you.

There was once a Sandy's in Hillside IL [Chicago suburb], near the defunct Hillside Shopping Center, now a CarMax dealer. The Sandy's lot is still empty.

Nice concept channel - good to focus on financials and business fundamentals. Hard to believe IPOs could be based on almost nothing.

The cabbage on their Big Scot was a deal-breaker for a lot of Americans' taste buds. It wasn't all that bad but it was weirdly different.

We always preferred Sandys over Mcdonald's back in the day. Was so disappointed when going to get my Sandy's fix and found out it was now a Hardee's.

Hardy's is one of the worst fast food chains..i haven't had there food in like 23 years and never plan on visiting anyone anytime soon.not to many left in Minnesota.

Thanks for covering a favorite place I lived as a kid.

I worked at one of the Sandy's in Topeka, KS and left when they changed the signs to say Hardee's. Went on maternity leave and never went back. I started at Sandy's at $.97 and hour and a hamburger, fries and drink were $.50, add cheese it was $.52

A really honourable company, actually cared about franchisees and the employees.

One day Sandy's drive in will come back. 😀👍

there is a Sandy's here in Austin Tx...sooo good!!

Yes! I love talking and writing about industry. I work in the trucking and food industry so this is really interesting your video's are really wonderful.

Does anyone remember Jerry's Restaurant? There were several here in Kentucky but they are all gone. Have you ever heard of them?

Miss Sandys had one in La Crosse Wisconsin it was a sad day when it changed far as I was concerned Sandy's and Henry's and Burger Chef were better than all the rest

We had Sandy's here in Wichita. It was so great going there as a kid!

There was a Sandy's in Pekin Illinois (10 miles from Peoria). Don't recall when it closed though. I'm in Minnesota now, and there are lots of Hardees here. Where does the Carls Jr come from ?

We got to go to Sandy's for a bit before they closed mainly the West Eldorado and North Water locations. I sure don't recall them ever being a Bucky's

You good sir have a new friend! Love this video.

I still remember what those restaurants smelled like, what the food tasted like. We had one in Galesburg. As a very young kid, I couldn't understand why Hardee's took them over; I was bummed for quite a while.

Thanks for the mini-documentary! As a 9 year old I remember going to a Sandy's in ames Iowa around 1971,and eating a large pork tenderloin sandwich w fries and chocolate shake. This sandwich is not available in Dallas Texas, even today. Dang, they were good! I noticed a cross on one of the storefronts in your pictures. Was that part of the corporate culture or a franchisee's idea, you think? Good memories!

I feel sorry for the Sandy's burger chain. I actually ate at a Hardee's in Griffith, IN last Summer.

Sandy's had great tenderloin sandwiches which I enjoyed at the Hannibal Missouri Sandy's back in the 1960's. Much later while living in Wisconsin I discovered another great Sandy's in Richland Center, WI. which had the same great tenderloins.

Brother worked at one in Toledo late 60's, brought home burgers not sold after closing, good times.

In the mid-sixty's the big Sandy and those 12" long fries was a major player in my daily life.......

Had one growing up in Evansville IN. They had fried pies!

We always stopped in Sandy's on McKnight rd. Going to Pittsburgh. We looked forward to stopping for our burgers, fries and a pop

As for Hardee's change of direction, that was solely due to being bought out by CKE (aka Carl's Jr.).

had one in Dixon, IL.

I rember sandy's in Cincinnati thru the 70s eating their in the summer time.

Sandy's was THE BEST!

I have spent most of my life in California and Arizona and never saw a Sandys or Hardees all the time I have lived there. The first Hardees I ever saw was in Hong Kong. THere are now some Carls JR here in Southern AZ. I grew up in Glendale, CA with a Bobs Big Boy in my back yard. I often wonder what happened to them.

Not a restaurant per-se, but whatever happened to Stuckey's that dotted the interstate highways with billboards for Pecan Logs for miles in every direction ?

Could I have a double Whammyburger with cheese, And an order of Whammy fries, and a Choco-Wham shake.?