It’s been more than a generation since the carhop hey day and heck, even ‘Happy Days’ and ‘American Graffiti’ have become classics themselves. Anyone under the age of 35 probably never even had the chance to drive up and get served, however that is now changing, as an American classic serves up malts, burgers and fries in the age of iPhones, HDTV and the internet.
Our story idea began a few months back while flying to cover a different story and while on the plane, I noticed a little blurb in a paper about carhops returning to Minnesota. Once back on the ground in Southern California, a little research revealed that carhops are indeed making a comeback, just like the muscle car. We even found several locations skating back into business here in the Golden State and the one we settled on just opened a short glide from Disneyland.
‘Ruby’s’ has been a staple here in Southern California for more than 25 years and now sports 48 locations in a number of states. What began as shake shacks serving beachcombers at the end of piers, has now spread to another iconic image…the good old fashioned American drive-in. CEO and founder of the Ruby’s chain Doug Cavanaugh says drive-ins take more space and finding a location can be tough, but when this property became available in Anaheim, California it was an easy choice.
Inside you’ll hear classics from the 40’s and 50’s with decor to match, as outside food hangs from windowsills. On this day, a group of guys and gals from ‘The Streetrodders’ in Whittier, California have cruised on in to get a slice of years ago. Parked down the live I see a 1940 Ford next to a stunning red and white ‘Bel Air’, but it is the 1966 avocado-green Fairlane that catches my eye. Owner Gary Kirkpatrick bought it new and used to take cruise the carhops before and after Vietnam. Now he pulls into Ruby’s with his friends and relives quite a time here in ‘tinsel town’.