The rise and fall of America's drive-in restaurants
Once a staple of American car culture, drive-in restaurants have dwindled from 40,000 locations to just a few remaining family-owned spots. The article explores how these survivors maintain their business model and cultural relevance in the modern era.
Why it matters
It documents the decline of a specific American cultural institution and the economic challenges faced by legacy small businesses.
In the mid-20th century, there were 40,000 drive-in restaurants across America, complete with intercoms for ordering and carhops who brought out food on steel trays. They were the beating heart of the US's emerging car culture. But today, there are only a handful of family-owned drive-ins left in America. Superdawg is Chicago's last remaining one.
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