Thursday, November 14, 2013

Happy Days at the Home Drive In

The Home Drive In was a very busy place in the 50s and 60s," said Patty Hanes. "They were open pretty much all the time, and sometimes we would sleep on the beach and have breakfast there. Of course, most of the action was in the evenings and late at night. It was a place to 'See and be seen.' I remember seeing Spesh Servidio and his friends. They were sort of the original Erie 'Bikers.' He had a Harley with ape-hanger handlebars. He later had a furniture store called 'Especially Victorian' in the late 80s. Spesh passed away on December 13, 2011."

 The Home Drive In was located at 2902 West Lake Road and was owned by Lamar and Edward Majeroni. It may have closed around 1968 or so. The restaurant had a prime location on the northwest triangle at West 8th and Peninsula Drive. It was close to the beach, Waldameer amusement park (and Trinity Cemetery). Cars parked under an awning which was heated in the winter and shady in the summer. Girls on roller-skates brought orders right to the car and attached a tray on the car door. Just like on Happy Days or American Graffiti. Another long gone piece of Erie history.

 The Home Drive In attracted lots of tourists who visited Presque Isle State Park and lots of locals who hung out on the beach working on their tan.

 Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
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Location: 2902 West Lake Road, Erie, PA 16505, USA

3 comments:

  1. Write MindNovember 15, 2013 at 11:02 AM

    I knew Spesh he was a very good friend to my father. I have a much cherished picture of him holding me on his bike, I was about a year old at the time.

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  2. AnonymousJuly 29, 2015 at 1:46 AM

    I remember spech too. I worked there summers and more from '65-'68. They lasted another year after I left in early '69
    Very popular with the 20 to 30 crowd.

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  3. AnonymousOctober 6, 2016 at 5:49 AM

    I'm 84 years old now....I was a carhop at the Home Drive-In 1959 thru 1962. Sally (real name Sarah)was in charge of the carhops. She and I became fast friends. We worked hard but it was a fun job and we took pride in our cute, clean, blue and white uniforms as well as our fast and thorough service ....AND really fine freshly prepared foods. We did indeed have trays that attached to the bottom of the window frame of the car...and we had terrific lap trays for full meals. BUT there were NO ROLLER SKATES! I left there when my husband and I, along with our 4 young children, moved to California...probably one of the smartest things we ever did. I have fond memories of my time working there, of my friendship with Sally, of the good food and of waiting on some wonderful people. A couple of months before I left there to move to CA a man and his 2 (or maybe 3) sons came in sometimes for dinner. They were so very nice and they always wanted me to wait on them (we did not have stations...we all worked the entire lot). He and his boys and I always kidded around in a respectful way and one day they told me that their nickname for me was their "blue pants special"! Yeah...I loved working there!

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