Those Two Oldest Route 66 Fast Food Places (By State): The Cozy and the Frozen

From MSN:  "Your state's oldest fast food place."

ILLINOIS:  COZY DOG DRIVE-IN, Springfield

Founded in 1946, this retro restaurant on historic Route 66 has a lengthy fast food-oriented menu, but, their main attraction is its signature Cozy Dog, which is essentially an early version of the now familiar  corn dog.

Ed Waldmire started toying with the recipes of corn batter-coated deep-fried hot dogs on a stick back in the 1940s and they've continued to be a favorite in Illinois.

Just don't order a "corn dog" there.  You'll be corrected.

******************************

MISSOURI:  TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD, St. Louis

Tennis pro Ted Drewes actually opened his  his first frozen custard stand in Florida in 1929, but he soon brought the concept to his home state of Missouri.

While the  frozen custard custard business floundered at first, it began flourishing by the eighties.

In the winetr months, the shop sells Christmas trees that are grown on the Drewes' family Christmas tree farm in Nova Scotia.

Did You Guess Them?   --RoadYum

Sweet St. Louis Is Beckoning-- Part 3: Ted Drewes, of Course

Ted Drewes Sr, opened his first store in Florida in 1929 and a year later came to St. Louis, selling his cold treats through the Depression.  he has had many offers to franchise his stands, but he and now his son, Ted Jr. refuse to in order to insure the quality of their product.

Ted Drewes didn't invent frozen custard; it began as a carnival treat at New York's Coney Island nearly 100 years ago.  Unlike ice cream, it contains eggs and has less air so it stays smooth and doesn't crystallize.  But, Ted Drewes uses a particular kind of honey, which they go through great lengths to keep under wraps.  They even go so far as to have their supplier remove the labels before shipping so that others can't find out what it is.

The main stand on Chippewa Street on Route 66 closes January 1 and reopens on Valentine's Day.  The stand sells balsam fir trees at Christmas time.  A second stand on Grand Boulevard is open summers only.

teddrewes.com  At 6726 Chippewa Street.

--RoadDog