The Last of the Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs

As summer comes to an end, it seems appropriate to chronicle one of the most iconic American foods ever:  The hamburger.  If you have ever gone on a road trip, this is the most ubiquitous meal at any rest stop.  These days, you have several options from national fast food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy’s, but it wasn’t always like that.  Most people think the fast food revolution happened in the 50’s and 60’s, but it turns out, 1921 was the magical year.  Yes 102 years ago.  This week, we are going to talk about the second oldest fast food chain in the U.S., Kewpee Hamburg Hotels, which was founded in 1923.  This is their centennial, and in celebration, we are going to discuss all the innovations this small, and obscure chain contributed to American food, including the Drive-Thru, Curbside service, the flat bun, and the Deluxe Hamburger.  We will also discuss how Dave Thomas and Col. Harland Sanders met, and the influence Kewpee had on Wendy’s and In N Out Burger.