There were many hamburger chains that were launched in the 1950s and 60s to compete with McDonald's. Unfortunately, most of them (except for Burger King) ended up flattened like a burger under a heavy spatula by the staggering power of the mighty Golden Arches.
I've written about a few of the burger wanna-be's that tried their luck in Lorain County, including Sandy's Hamburgers and Casey's Drive-in. But there was one that came and went so fast that it is little-remembered today: Kelly's. That's why it's ironic that its building remains there on North Ridge Road, across from the old Sheffield Center.
And below is the full-page Grand Opening ad for Kelly's that appeared in the Journal back on August 24, 1962.
It seems like McDonald's was certainly the template for Kelly's. McDonald's had its 'Speedee Service System;' Kelly's was called 'Jet System.' Even Kelly's sign featured an arch of sorts.
This green, vintage paper hat makes me think that the name Kelly's might have originally signaled an Irish theme.
But somehow the mascot resembling a butler doesn't jive with that theory, or the whole futuristic 'Jet System' gimmick either.
5 comments:
Is that the building that later became Kenny Kings in the 70s, and a Chinese restaurant (The Golden Nam Wah, I think) in the 80s?
Did this become the Caseys?
I think that became Casey's.
It's interesting that they had a fish sandwich in 1962, the same year McDonald's introduced the Filet-o-Fish. Still one of my favorite fish sandwiches.
Whenever I drive by that place on Rte 254 now,I think of all the old hot rods that used to cruise that parking lot.Before The Beatles polluted rock n roll,American kids used to cruise the streets and listen to real American rock n roll.I also see that Dog N Suds on down the road from Kelly's has already closed for the season.So much for cruising the strip like Milner did in America Graffiti.
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