Toot's Drive-In Grand Opening

[genealogynut]

Howard Courant-Citizen
Thursday, June 16, 1955

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Giesy and children of the Moline community have opened up a new refreshment parlor at the east edge of the Jackson block, bordering on Highway 99.   They have named it "Toot's Drive-In,"  and will have their formal opening Friday, June 17th, when free cones will be served to all from noon until 4:00 p.m.  They feature malts, shakes, sundaes, pop, hot dogs, and tavern burgers.  They urge you to attend their opening and will be glad to serve you often.

[Ole Granny]

Just found this from previous post.  Toots, originally, was just a drive-in. No seating for coffee sessions.  Enjoyed viewing the poster.  Notice all of their first names at the bottom.

[giester2]

I just realized that our name is spelled wrong on the flyer (Giesey).  Now at some point in our family history it was spelled that way, and there are still some distant relatives that still use that spelling, but not us.

[Rhonda]

Ah, the memories of Toot's Drive In.  That was the first job I had and worked there all during high school.  Everything went out the window--no seats in those days.  I worked for Beth Harrod who owned it then.  I try to stop everytime I'm in Howard and I still like to stand outside at the window and order.

[emptynest]

Hey--Rhonda, do you remember minute buns?  They were the most popular thing going at Toot's when we were in high school.  I asked somebody about them a while back and they looked at me like I was crazy and then accused me of being "OLD."     They also didn't believe me when I said that the seated area did not exist at one time---that it was added on.

[Rhonda]

I too long for a minute bun--they were my favorite.  Way back when---we only had chocolate ice cream on the weekends.  What a treat when the weekend rolled around! 

[kdfrawg]

First, I have to ask what the heck a "minute bun" is. Would that be "minute" as in sixty seconds or "minute" as in very small? And then I have to admit that the more I hear about Toots the more I would like to go there.

[emptynest]

My kids all live away from here---Corey in Lawrence, Courtney in Wichita and Cameron in Manhattan.  If I go to visit them or if we meet anywhere outside of Howard, I am on strict instructions to take them "Toot's Food".  They don't care how many hours it travels--if it is stone cold when I get it to them or what---they want their Toot's Food and a lot of it.  Corey went as far as to take Toot's food to an office covered dish dinner----he ordered stuff from there and I was going to Lawrence and delivered it!!!! What a hoot!

A minute bun was....I guess..... done in a minute.  It was a hamburger bun with this delicious meat mixture on it with pickles.  It was delicious.  Not a sloppy joe per say, but just unique.  They should really bring them back----I may even add that to one of the mutating wishes.  That surely would do the trick.

[kdfrawg]

I grew up in North Omaha, where there was a place called Zesto. It was once part of a chain, but I think it may be the only one left. They had soft serve cones and I especially remember their Zesto Beefburger, which was finely-ground hamburger, onion, pickle and other stuff, totaling an indescribably taste. I have never had any other foodstuff remotely like it. It had enough grease in it so you can hear your arteries slam shut while you're eating it. It was, and still is, a magnificent sandwich. I would kill for the recipe, but the only one that can tell me is the one man who knows how to make them, which would make such an exercise self-defeating.

[Debra Dennett Johnson]

I, too, worked at Toot's for the Harrod's.  But, my sister, Janice, worked at Toot's before me when the Giesey's owned it.  My mom worked there, too.  I started working at Toot's when I was 14 for 35 cents an hour, 45 cents an hour on Sundays.  And at that time, the addition wasn't built on so we just had the sliding window at the front.  And, those minute buns!  I had forgotten about those!  Just make a little hole in a bun and spoon that "stuff" (the minute bun mix) into the bun.  I vividly recall all the buses and buses of boy scouts come by in the summer time on their way to and from boy scout camp. 

I wouldn't trade growing up in Howard for all the money in the world.  Those were wonderful days and what fun we had swimming at the low water bridge before the swimming pool was built.  Riding our bicycles around town even at night.  Small school where you knew everyone in your class (you had known most of them your whole life!).