Sandy's fan John Schulkins remembers Sandy's Addison, Illinois location! Addison was most likely Sandy's #62. This location does not appear on the final 1973 Sandy's list so sadly it may have closed before the Hardees buyout. Thankfully John has given us information that it remained a successful restaurant at least through the early 1990's! Addison Sandy's probably opened in early 1963.
Hey this brings back memories. I was living in Addison, Ill. when Sandy's opened. I remember the night of the famous drug bust when some of my older brother's friends were arrested and sent to jail or the army. This location was the scene for many fights and was our local hang out for many years. The last Manager I knew was my neighbor. His name was George Michelin. He had a son my age. I knew a lot of guys that worked there but doubt if anyone would have any memorabilia. After the Addison location closed it was bought by Mickey Sangiacomo. His family owned a popular hot dog stand in Bellwood, Ill. I actually worked there in the early 80's and opened Mickey's # 4 in Glendale Heights, Ill. He sold all the Mickey's locations in the early 90's. I have to say my friends and I were original Sandy's pioneers. Not a day went by that we didn't stop in for a burger. thanks for the memory!
John Schulkins
Hurst, TX.
Pete "the Greek" Agriostathes remembers how great Sandy's was as well!
Grew up at a "Sandy's" in Addison,Ill, good memories seeing the pictures !
Bill Trudeau has just joined the Sandy's legends club on this website. In what is yet again one of the greatest updates, Sandy's fan Bill Trudeau has found the Sandy's Addison location and it is STILL INTACT!!!!!
You'll have to forgive my ignorance, but I honestly don't even remember Sandy's. I AM, however, a big fan of history, and when stumbling upon your website I just couldn't beleive what the Elmhurst Sandy's looked like. What a fantastic design they had. After realizing what the buildings all looked like, I remembered a hot dog stand in Addison Illinois that looked strikingly similar. From the first time I saw it back in the middle 70's up until recently it was Mickey's Red Hots. It has recently gone through hard times, and is currently an out of business taco stand. I think you might be a little excited to see these pictures, because this one is definitely a time warp. I think this one might be the easiest one out of them all to restore to previous Sandy's glory. Even the sign supports are still there...
Here are pix of the Elmhurst Sandy's from the back, and Addison in all its glory...
Bill
INCREDIBLE! Bill has indeed found the original Addison Sandy's location and the building is a museum piece! By adding the neon trim, the giant Sandy's sign on the front roof wing to its original supports and by adding the classic Sandy's sign out front onto its ORIGINAL BRICK BASE, this baby is ready to go! Sandy's Addison location along with Elmhurst, Illinois were no doubt the instigators of raised eyebrows in the McDonald's home office in nearby Oak Brook, Illinois.
Addision most likely closed before the Hardees buy-out of Sandy's in 1973 and in an incredible twist, this definitely was the factor that saved the building until today in 2007! It would have most certainly been leveled by now or have been built around to the point of not being recognizable. This classic building is a gem to the Chicagoland area and belongs in the Smithsonian Museum's classic 1960's American architecture section.
Check out the original menuboard area as well as the original ceiling lighting which follows the elevation of the front ceiling wing! Classic Sandy's Bob Armstrong 1950's/1960's architecture! The front counter section has been removed but it is not too hard to imagine oneself enjoying the classic Sandy's drive-in experience in this picture.
Note the classic Sandy's front wood beam in this picture. The window covering the front section of this Sandy's is known as the winter cover. Since this Sandy's was built as an original walk-up fast food burger drive-in, there was no indoor seating. During the winter months, this attachment was placed around the front to allow people standing in line to be out of the elements. In the warm months it was taken off and the building was free again. Along the way, this fixture was permanently attached so that indoor seating could be provided and was never taken off again. Bear this in mind if you are thinking of buying this available property and restoring Sandy's back to her original state! Incredibly, this is the ORIGINAL WINTER COVER from the mid 1960's. This perhaps is the only one still known to exist!
Presenting the original Sandy's sign brick base - now in its 5th decade!
Needless to say, for Sandy's fans, it just doesn't get much better than this folks. Lets add some neon and get the red paint off those beautiful hard wood beams and Sandy's is ready to go!
10/22/2007 ... Sandy's fan Bill Lackey worked at Sandy's Addison!
Stumbling across your website brought back a lot of great memories. Some time around 1963 I applied for a job at a new restaruant that was opening up and got the job. While I don't think I worked the first day it was open, I certainly worked during the first week. The original manager was Art Schroeder who was still living in Addison some years ago. Hamburgers started at 15 cents and all that was on the menu were hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, soft drinks, and shakes. Of course, once McDonalds introduced the Big Mac, Sandy's had to have its own double hamburger soon afterwards. The store was owned in partnership by Art Schroeder and several other men who also owned the liquor store at the shopping center. Eventually, I would work at all of the four stores these men owned and was the night manager in Addison for a couple years. These were located at Hillside, Addison, and Elmhurst. It was my first job made .85 cents an hour to start.
Bill Lackey
01/19/2009 ... Sandy's fan Luane Raudabaugh wrote;
I just found the Sandy's site and saw the listing of Ill Sandy's. I grew up in Addison, Ill during the 60's and 70's and remember a Sandy's on Addison Road - it wasn't on your list. I only know that I was very sad when it went out of business because I loved those burgers way more than Mcdonald's. I would have to say it's got to be the same company as it had the same Scottish plaid theme. Thanks, Luane
11/25/2009 ... Joe Archie presents incredible Sandy's Addison location pictures.
The first picture is from 1976. INCREDIBLE! Scroll to the right to see the entire picture including the original Sandy's sign changed to Mickey's!
UPDATE!!!! Sandy's fan Troy Smith adds these 2010 photos!
If you have any memorabilia, pictures or stories of Sandy's in Addison, Illinois or elsewhere, please email me!
