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A&W Root Beer Stands (page 6)

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The remaining pages in this section have examples of A&W's "pilgrim hat" buildings. The unique, steel roof was designed by Trachte Brothers and were officially known as A&W's "pagoda" design. The first one was installed in Edgerton, WI in 1965. Very few of the buildings with this design still house A&Ws. Most of the buildings have either been remodeled or house other businesses. Trachte also designed the Kentucky Fried Chicken pagoda roof in 1968.

The locations on the next pages are organized alphabetically by state.

former A&W Root Beer
Chandler, AZ		 former A&W Root Beer
Cottonwood, AZ
This former A&W Root Beer in Chandler was built in 1974. The building now houses Long Wong's. [map]

This former A&W Root Beer in Cottonwood now houses Pepe's Cafe. [map]

A&W Root Beer
San Rafael, CA		 former A&W Root Beer
South Lake Tahoe, CA
This A&W Root Beer in San Rafael opened in 1973. It is one of the very few operating locations with the pilgrim hat design and plastic oval sign. The sign was probably lowered due to city regulations. It appears to have the original embossed plastic panels. The sign on the building has the later logo with italics letters which extend outside the white oval. [map]

This former A&W Root Beer in South Lake Tahoe is another example of these small buildings. The building was vacant when this photo was taken in 2014. It had most housed a Roberto's Taco Shop before that. The building now houses a BBQ restaurant. [map]

former A&W Root Beer
San Jose, CA		 former A&W Root Beer
Menlo Park, CA
This former A&W Root Beer in San Jose now houses Mr. Chau's Chinese Fast Food. This photo is from 2014. The building was painted red in 2015. In 2020, the roof tower had been removed and the building was for sale. It was still vacant in 2023. [map]

This former A&W Root Beer in Menlo Park housed Jason's Cafe from 2008-2019. The drive-in canopy had been turned into a building addition. The building has been vacant since Jason's closed but it reopened in 2023. [map]

former A&W Root Beer
Grass Valley, CA
This former A&W Root Beer now houses the Big A Root Beer Drive-In. [map]

former A&W Root Beer
Redding, CA		 former A&W Root Beer
Visalia, CA
This former A&W Root Beer in Redding has housed Fat Daddy's BBQ since 2002. [map]

This A&W Root Beer building in Visalia was painted green back in 2005. It has since been repainted the original orange. This photo is from 2013. In 2022, the building began housing Doc's Chicken Spot and the plastic oval sign was gone. [map]

There was another pilgrim hat location in Visalia, CA but it was replaced with a modern building in 2020. The plastic oval sign remains. [map]

former A&W Root Beer
Chester, CA		 former A&W Root Beer
Susanville, CA
This former A&W Root Beer in Chester now houses Bing's Lake Almanor Bistro. [map]

This former A&W Root Beer in Susanville had housed the Chinese Kitchen Restaurant since at least 2007. This photo is from 2016. By 2018, the building was housing the Courthouse Cafe. [map]

More California:
Sacramento [map]

former A&W Root Beer [gone]
Loveland, CO		 former A&W Root Beer
Montrose, CO
This former former A&W Root Beer in Loveland was built in 1972. It last housed Fatso's Diner. This photo is from 2012. The building was damaged by a fire in 2013 but there were plans to reopen. It was still closed in 2017 and then demolished around 2021. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This former A&W Root Beer in Montrose was housing a Drivers Education School when this photo was taken in 2012. By 2018, the pilgrim hat had been removed from the building and it was housing a Mexican restaurant. [map]

former A&W Root Beer
Humboldt, IA		 A&W Root Beer [gone]
Cedar Rapids, IA
This former A&W Root Beer in Humboldt had been known as the Backseat Diner since 2003. This drive-in features the canopy next to the building rather than extending away from it. I don't know if this was the original layout. In 2022, the "hat" and canopy were removed. The building is vacant. [map]

This A&W Root Beer in Cedar Rapids opened in 1948. It has been closed since 2008 when it was completely submerged during a devastating flood. These photos are from 2010. The building was demolished in 2013. For more, see this website.

A&W Root Beer [gone]
Sheldon, IA
This A&W Root Beer featured an original Teen Burger. This location added an untraditional broaster chicken with energy efficient light bulb eyes. These photos are from 2009. By 2012, this A&W had closed and the statues were gone. The chicken statue is now located at Lally's Eastside Restaurant in Le Mars, IA. The Teen Burger statue is now at the A&W in Emmetsburg, IA. In 2014, the building began housing the El Guacamole Mexican restaurant. It is currently vacant. For more Teen Burgers and other A&W Burger Family statues, see this page. For more broaster chickens like this, see this page. [map]

More Iowa:
Mason City

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