Henry’s Hamburgers began as a part of the Bressler’s Ice Cream Company’s efforts to get in on the drive-in business in the 1950’s. Bressler's wanted an outlet to sell their ice cream via milk shakes and malts. In the early 60’s, there were over 200 Henry’s (more stores than McDonalds at the time!) from coast to coast, with the operations headquarters in Chicago, IL.
Henry's Hamburgers was one of the big four in the Quad Cities area. The others were Sandy's, McDonalds and Burger King.
Henry's was famous for their 10 burgers for a buck special as well as their classic 1960's walk-up drive-in buildings and their enormous sign out front. The three Henry's Quad Cities locations were Rock Island, Illinois, Moline, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa.
Sadly, all three locations closed a long time ago. Thankfully all three locations still exist to this day. Henry's Harrison Street location in Davenport, Iowa has changed hands many, many times and was even shut down and then brought back as a Henry's at one point. Ironically, this location has remained essentially the same since it was built. Only a small walk up area has been added to the front!
Rock Island Henry's was the last to close. It was owned by the same owner from beginning to end and when he retired, Henry's was gone forever. The building has been added onto several times from its original walk-up drive-in layout and sadly, it no longer maintains the classic Henry's image and is currently an oriental restaurant.
Henry's 23rd Ave Moline, Illinois location became the locally popular Adolph's Taco House. Adolph added a dining area but you can still clearly see the sharp angle roof outline of the classic Henry's building!
 |
 |
 |
From an auction on ebay by keeno55, an advertising toy clicker stating "America's Most Complete Drive-In Menu, Head for Henry's" and in working condition as shown. My ex-wife used to work here during the 1970's and this clicker was obtained there at that time. It was located on West 7th Street, in Joplin, Mo., also known as the old Route 66 and at the location of the present day "Sultan of Smoke" Bar-B-Q restaurant. Measures about 1 3/4" long.
Henry's halloween mask auctioned on ebay by slade1955 in 2005.
Henry's sign at the top of this page is found at the outstanding www.michigandriveins.com website. Henry's cup, tshirt and punch card were found on ebay.
06/25/2009 ... I see that the newspaper ads shown on your Henry's page are from Minneapolis, MN. I remember the 6430 Lyndale location in Richfield, and a few years back was amazed to discover the original Henry's sign, painted over but still recognizable, in the back lot of the garden center that is now there. When the garden center closed a couple of years ago, a local resident asked about the sign and they said he could have it. It has since been restored as a Henry's sign (but without the neon as of yet), and makes appearances around town in parades, car shows, and such on a flatbed trailer. It is billed as "Richfield's Oldest Sign", and I have attached a picture that you may add to the website.
The 9801 Aldrich location in Bloomington is one I don't specifically remember as Henry's, but it operated for many years as Clark's Submarine Sandwiches in the classic Henry's wedge shaped building. Clark's was the only place I knew of to get a sub, years before Subway, Quizno's or Cousin's came along. This building was torn down a few years ago to make way for a Walgreen's. On a related note, there is a '60's Arby's covered wagon-style building still standing in Richfield, operating as a used car lot.
-Brian Carlson
Click on the Henry's sign to enlarge.
Here are a couple of shots of the Richfield, MN Arby's covered wagon building, taken 6-27-09. Other than the modern awning on the side, it has not been altered at all, at least on the outside. They have widened the street since Arby's was operating here, since the "big hat" neon sign that was once there would not fit in the present space in front of the building. (We do have one or two of the classic signs still in use in front of newer buildings here in the Twin Cities area.)
Upon studying the Henry's newspaper ads from Minneapolis that are posted on this page, I came to the realization that I have a color picture of the 2108 E. Franklin Henry's building! I took this shot in March, 1989 without recalling exactly what kind of drive-in this closed location once was, but the ads posted showing the drawing of the building, along with the exact street address of this store, confirms it! As you can see, this building in 1989 was virtually unaltered, and includes the turquoise and red Henry's colors in the striped tile. The sign is even still there! Judging from the redevelopment going on in the background of this shot, along with a look at Google Earth images from today, this building is likely long gone now. But it is a thrill to share this discovery.
Brian Carlson
