Chuck Kerls, has come thru again. Not only did he find the near impossible to find... an original Sandy's building in Wichita, Kansas, he has now found another original Sandy's building in Topeka Kansas!
Chuck found this Sandy's while driving, taking his son to college in Topeka. Without his camera at the time, he returned to Topeka and took pictures of this classic location.
Chuck writes...
I finally got the photos of the Sandys location in Topeka, Kansas. The address is 5324 17th Street. Note the tile is still in place on the side of the building.
As you can see it is now a scrapbook business.
Chuck Kerls
This location was Sandy's #129. The district manager was Roger Fries, a friend of this website! Opened in mid 1967, probably late April to early June, it was preceeded by Sandy's #128, 1449 Byron Street in Topeka. By this time, Sandy's was in the middle of its glory years, opening locations weekly across the country. Topeka had four known Sandy's locations.
With restoration, this Sandy's is ready to go! As Chuck mentioned, check out the ORIGINAL SANDY'S PLAID ON THE BUILDING!!!!!
Huge special thanks to Chuck Kerls. INCREDIBLE!!!
Roger Townley not only remembers Sandy's in Topeka... he ate at this very location on West 17th Street when he was a kid!
Greetings:
I have fond memories of Sandy’s in Topeka where I grew up. The one on W.17th Street was closest to my home and I used to ride my bike there. My favorite sandwich was the Big Scot and to this day it remains the best fast food burger I have eaten. I loved the combination of cabbage and sauce with the burger patties and cheese.
In 1984 I was hired by Hardee’s corporate office as Director of Research and Development in charge of all food product development and related technical services for the chain. Today I still live in Rocky Mount, NC, home of Hardee’s. I left their employ in 1990 to start by food product development firm.
I love your website and have all good memories of Sandy’s.
Roger Townley
05/26/06...Bob Wilber also found Topeka Sandy's!
Hi there... I'm an old Sandy's lover from the 60's, lived in Kirkwood, Missouri in the St. Louis suburbs, and even see our old Sandy's listed in the long section of old buildings. Very cool, and very nostalgic.
I'm in professional drag racing now, and we're racing in Topeka this weekend. On my way back to the hotel last night, I took a more scenic back way through the city streets and, much to my surprise, passed this classic Sandy's. Had to stop and take a pic...
This one is absolutely unmistakable, right down to the tartan stripes around the rear section of the building! It's now a scrap book store, but there's no telling how many business incarnations have inhabited this site since the demise of the original Sandy's store. A little piece of history, just sitting there in west Topeka.
Thanks so much!
Bob Wilber Team Manager - Worsham Racing
07/25/2010 ... Sandy's fan Troy Smith writes; I know you have a great shot of this one, but I had to see it. Looks like Scrapbooks Etc got a new sign. I wish I would have had time to visit the library. An original shot of this one would have been great.
10/06/2010... This is the Sandy ’s down the street from where I was raised, and I worked there back when I was 15, 16 or so, which probably was in maybe 72 or 73.
After Hardees, it was the CAT association (no-kill cat shelter) and now a scrapbooking place. I drove by it this morning when they were closed. It actually looks like they have the original slanted counters with the tile still in place inside and it’s in really great shape. On the sign, that is the original base where Sandy twirled above. The place looks really nice. - BlackGMC
Hello,
I remember my sister taking me to Sandy's on 17th & Fairlawn in Topeka, KS in what must have been the mid 60's for their 10 cent hamburger specials. It was a hang out for Hayden High School kids (as well as others)(Might find some pics in old HH yearbooks). I don't recall there being much else around the restaurant on the same side of the street at that time. It may have been either by itself or one other building next to it.
If memory serves: One of their competitors was down at 21st & Fairlawn and was called the Cuckoo Drive-in. Had a large plastic(?) cuckoo on top with a loudspeaker behind it that would cuckoo on the hour.
Sandy's fan tsb
Hi,
I am the manager of Scrapbooks Etc. in Topeka Kansas that was formerly a Sandy's restaurant. We have been in the building 7 years. We had to pretty much gut the interior as it was the CAT association right before us. Fortunately we were able to keep the stainless steel counter and the mosaic tile goes all around the counter. We couldn't believe what great shape the tile is in both inside and out. We just love our quirky building.
I had wanted to do a little research on the building and was thrilled to find your website. We knew that it was Hardees and even found an old order form from Hardees. We think it was also a bbq place before the CAT association.
Thanks!
Debbie Worthington
Topeka Kansas
If you have any memorabilia, pictures or stories of Sandy's in Topeka, Kansas or elsewhere, please email me!
