Druthers
Encyclopedia
Druther's was a chain of fast food
restaurants that began as Burger Queen restaurants (a defunct restaurant chain that was based in Louisville, Kentucky
); it existed from 1963 through 1981. The name was a play on the word druthers, and their mascot was a giant female bee
named Queenie Bee. In 1981, Burger Queen changed to Druther's restaurants, although the changes were mostly cosmetic. One reason given for the name change was to eliminate the perception that they were "just burgers", when they also had fried chicken
and a serve-yourself salad bar
. Druther's featured a character named "Andy Dandytale" on their kids meal items (and a live-action version in early TV advertising). Their slogan was "I'd Ruther Go to Druther's."
in 1963, and still stands today as a Dairy Queen
at 11806 Shelbyville Road. The last operating Druther's (as of August 2011) is in Campbellsville, Kentucky
.
Several Druther's restaurants were converted to the Dairy Queen
chain in the late-1980s/early-1990s. The company that owned Druther's - Druther's Systems Inc. - retained ownership of many of the restaurants after they became Dairy Queens. It was reported in 1996 that a company called International Dairy Queen Inc. bought 31 Dairy Queen/Brazier outlets in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana from Druther's Systems Inc. for an undisclosed price. The lone existing Druther's restaurant is located in Campbellsville, Kentucky
.
Druther's is known for their breakfast and lunch menu, they are not open for dinner.
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurants that began as Burger Queen restaurants (a defunct restaurant chain that was based in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
); it existed from 1963 through 1981. The name was a play on the word druthers, and their mascot was a giant female bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
named Queenie Bee. In 1981, Burger Queen changed to Druther's restaurants, although the changes were mostly cosmetic. One reason given for the name change was to eliminate the perception that they were "just burgers", when they also had fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
and a serve-yourself salad bar
Salad bar
A salad bar is a buffet-style table or counter at a restaurant or food market on which salad components are provided for customers to assemble their own salad plates...
. Druther's featured a character named "Andy Dandytale" on their kids meal items (and a live-action version in early TV advertising). Their slogan was "I'd Ruther Go to Druther's."
History
The first Burger Queen/Druther's was built in Middletown, KentuckyMiddletown, Kentucky
The median income for a household in the city was $53,608, and the median income for a family was $61,667. Males had a median income of $45,417 versus $33,135 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,660...
in 1963, and still stands today as a Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc, who also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. The name "Dairy Queen" is taken from the name of their soft serve product, which the company refers to as "Dairy Queen" or...
at 11806 Shelbyville Road. The last operating Druther's (as of August 2011) is in Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville is a city in Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. The population within city limits was 10,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County, and the home of Campbellsville University...
.
Several Druther's restaurants were converted to the Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen, often abbreviated DQ, is a chain of soft serve and fast food restaurants owned by International Dairy Queen, Inc, who also owns Orange Julius and Karmelkorn. The name "Dairy Queen" is taken from the name of their soft serve product, which the company refers to as "Dairy Queen" or...
chain in the late-1980s/early-1990s. The company that owned Druther's - Druther's Systems Inc. - retained ownership of many of the restaurants after they became Dairy Queens. It was reported in 1996 that a company called International Dairy Queen Inc. bought 31 Dairy Queen/Brazier outlets in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana from Druther's Systems Inc. for an undisclosed price. The lone existing Druther's restaurant is located in Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville is a city in Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. The population within city limits was 10,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County, and the home of Campbellsville University...
.
Druther's is known for their breakfast and lunch menu, they are not open for dinner.