Ted Drewes
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Ted Drewes is a well-known frozen custard shop in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The original St. Louis shop, located on Natural Bridge Road, began serving in 1930. While the original location is now closed, the Chippewa Street (part of historic U.S. Route 66) and South Grand Street locations remain in operation today. The Route 66 location is famously known as the only frozen-dessert stand in the entire United States to operate 24/7 during summer months. Both locations are extremely popular during the spring and summer months, and are a tradition for many after attending St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.
4224 South Grand location38°34′48″N 90°14′39″W / 38.58012°N 90.24427°W
6726 Chippewa Street location 38°35′22″N 90°18′27″W / 38.58953°N 90.30747°W
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[edit] Ted Drewes frozen custard
Unlike some other frozen custards, Ted Drewes offers only one flavor, vanilla, and adds other flavorings and toppings as ordered.
The shop may be best known for a specialty called a "concrete". A concrete is custard blended with any combination of dozens of ingredients, served in a large yellow cup with a spoon and straw. A concrete is blended so thick that it and its spoon do not fall out when the cup is turned upside-down. Servers often demonstrate this before handing an order to the customer. Seasonal ingredients, such as apple and pumpkin pie, appear for a short period every year.
Dairy Queen's Blizzard, which is made with soft serve, is somewhat similar, but is not as thick as the Ted Drewes frozen custard concrete.[1]
[edit] History
Mr. Ted Drewes started making frozen custard with a carnival. The first fixed location was near St. Petersburg FLorida in 1929.[2] The first St. Louis shop began serving in 1930 on Natural Bridge Road near Goodfellow Blvd. Less than a year later, it was moved further west.[3] A second location was opened at 4224 South Grand in 1931. In 1941 a third location opened at 6726 Chippewa Street, on one of the alignments of U.S. Route 66 through St. Louis. The Natural Bridge and Florida locations had closed by 1958.[4]
For decades, the Grand Avenue location was the flagship store, serving what was then a densely populated urban area. Each year, it would open in April and close on October 31. The Chippewa location served as an outpost near the city limits for travelers heading to or returning from an Ozark weekend. In those days it was open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
With the shifting population from the city to the county, the Chippewa store became the flagship location. Its season extended to more of the year, while the shop on Grand shortened its seasonal operation. In the wake of the transition, the Chippewa Street store expanded its building and bought a neighboring property to accommodate parking.
As dessert eating habits have continued to change, the Chippewa store has stayed open later in the year. It is now closed for the winter only during the month of January. The South Grand location is now closed for much longer, opening only for the summer months.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Ted Drewes sells live Christmas trees from the Chippewa parking lot.[4]
[edit] Availability
Ted Drewes, Jr., reports that he has fielded numerous requests to turn the small chain into a nationwide franchise, but has refused.[4] Ted Drewes frozen custard is also available in St. Louis area grocery stores.
[edit] In the press
In 2006, the Route 66 location was featured on the Food Network show Feasting on Asphalt, hosted by Alton Brown. In a poll of St. Louis citizens, 96% reported that they would go to Ted Drewes for frozen custard over any other establishment.[citation needed]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Reed, Bill (2005-04-15). "Blizzard approximates St. Louis original concrete". Colorado Springs Gazette. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20050415/ai_n13618385. Retrieved 2006-05-19.
- ^ http://www.antiquewhs.com/2008/Inside_STL/ted-drewes-chirstmas.htm
- ^ http://www.antiquewhs.com/2008/Inside_STL/teddrewes.htm
- ^ a b c "A ST. LOUIS TRADITION". http://www.teddrewes.com/History.asp. Retrieved February 2009.
