Legendary drive-in marks 75 years with special, holiday hours, features
Ardy and Ed’s, an authentic 1950s drive-in, features waitresses on roller skates, 50s and 60s music, glass mugs filled with homemade root beer, and 50s decorations lining the walls and counters inside. One of two drive-ins in Oshkosh, alongside Leons on the north side of Oshkosh, Ardy and Ed’s offers a wide menu filled with various flavors of shakes and malts, and American classics like burgers and hotdogs.
Originally an A&W, the lakeside fixture was founded in 1948 by Nate Rohr, who went on to own multiple root beer stands in the Fox Valley. The A&W was later bought by Robert and Elizabeth Albrecht in 1953, and they held the business for some time until they sold it to Edward Timm, Elizabeth Albrecht’s son, and his wife Ardythe Timm. In 1972, the Timms decided to go independent and rename the business to Ardy and Ed’s; they continued to go strong throughout the seventies. When Ed passed away in 1979, Ardy kept the business running and remarried in 1991 to Steve Davis, who had partly owned the drive-in for some time. Today Ardy and Ed’s is owned by TJ and Valeta Rodgers, who own multiple other restaurants and businesses around the city.
General Manager Mark Bidwell finds the aesthetics of the stand the best part.
“A lot of it is just the experience; people come back because of the music and roller skates that make it feel authentic and fun,” he said.
Mary Dorschner, an employee for two years, finds her experience at the drive-in enjoyable.
“Working at Ardy and Ed’s has been overall positive, it’s a very fun place to work in the summer,” she said.
The business is open March through October, 10:30am-8pm, Tuesday through Sunday in the spring/fall, and 10:30am-9pm, Monday through Sunday in the summer.
“We are less busy in the spring and fall; everything usually depends on the weather. We close later in the spring and fall because it doesn’t pay to stay open when there are no customers,” Bidwell said.
After the drive-in did very well this summer, Bidwell met with former owner Steve Davis to talk about some ideas.
“We had a very successful year. Ardy and Ed’s has never really gotten in the Christmas spirit, but we wanted to invest some time and money into being a part of Oshkosh during the best time of year,” he said.
Ardy and Ed’s closed on November 5 this year, but they planned to open up on November 17 to start their new Christmas hours, where they will be open no later than December 23. Friday through Sunday, 12-8pm, the drive-in is selling Christmas trees, colored ornaments, apparel, gift packages, and a limited menu. The drive-in worked hard to set up a tent covering the parking lot, which allows them to stay open in the winter and sell Christmas trees. Ardy and Ed’s also has new delivery options for the holiday season.
These changes are breaking Ardy and Ed’s long time summer operation tradition, but some think it’s a good evolution.
“The new Christmas hours are different, but I think it will be better for the business. I think it will give regulars more time to enjoy Ardy and Ed’s before we close.” Junior Lindsey Dutscheck, an employee at Ardy and Ed’s since June 2023, said.
Bidwell collaborated with a local business to make this Christmas more magical.
“We are doing a collaboration with the Oshkosh Core Club for our gift packages; they might have gift cards, free yoga classes, t-shirts, hats, or refillable root beer jugs,” he said. “People can send gift packages or buy them for themselves.”
Ardy and Ed’s is keeping most of their old menu with just a few cuts for the holiday season.
“We’re just getting rid of a few items for the limited menu which has root beer floats, sundaes, single and double cheeseburgers, pizza burgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, hot beef, coney dog, fries, criss cuts, onion rings, sizzler steaks, cheese curds, and perch sandwiches,” Bidwell said.
Due to the drive-in being significantly less busy in the fall and spring, it was difficult to advertise throughout Oshkosh, but Dutcheck thinks the restaurant will do well with these changes.
“Although it’s hard to spread the word, I think the new hours will become popular,” she said.
Bidwell thinks these new hours could be great for Ardy and Ed’s as well as Oshkosh as a whole, giving the city something different to enhance the Christmas spirit for their 75th season, which makes the new hours even more special.
“It’s exciting to be doing this on the 75th season; it’s great that we get to celebrate it this way,” Bidwell said. “I believe that it could be something magical, and it gives Oshkosh something else besides the traditional things we have.”
By Tenna Ruetten
Published November 27 2023
Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue II