W
est Bend, WI - Big changes are coming to the local restaurant scene as a new diner is set to open in the former Alma's Cafe in Allenton and a Mexican grocery is planned for West Bend. Meanwhile, there has been a change of ownership at a popular location in Newburg.
A blast from the past: Do you remember Randy's Drive-In Restaurant, which operated on 1307 S. Main St. in West Bend from the late 1960s to 1983? Neighbors recall its distinctive red roof and barn theme, as well as its famous chicken dishes. In 1972, a box of chicken sold for $1.35, while a bucket cost $4.19 and a barrel was priced at $5.69.
The Big Max burger, which cost just 55 cents, was another popular item on the menu. According to Carol Santini, daughter of restaurant owner Ralph Roberts, the advertising campaign featured a cartoon character with his mouth wide open biting into the Big Max, with the slogan "Maximum: Double deck eating pleasure."
Randy's Drive-In was part of a chain started by Roberts in the early 1960s, which included Robby's and Kristy's restaurants. The first Robby's opened in Stevens Point, followed by six similar chains in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The West Bend location of Randy's was one of three outlets in the state, along with Jamestown, N.D., and Red Wing, Minn. The Red Wing location is still open today under new ownership. Randy's was a popular hangout for high school students, where you could go after getting your driver's license or to grab food after a night out.
Susie Krueger remembered singing a jingle about Randy's with her sisters on Sunday mornings to try and convince their parents to take them there. Kay Chalifoux recalled being surprised by her mom with a three-piece chicken dinner from Randy's while she was recovering from a car accident in the 1970s.
A fire in the early 1980s led to the closure of Randy's, but its legacy lives on through memories like these. As Carol Santini noted, "Randy's was before McDonald's and DQ, and it was a big treat to go get a bucket of chicken you didn't make at home."
