"Road Test" Submitted by a Spoken Road Fan. Thanks Jack Rushton!

Hear this Here!

Wendy’s Sign on I-95 approaching EXIT 27s in Florida.

“Upcoming is a Wendy’s Restaurant.  Florida 10th Grader Jack Rushton loves Wendy’s so much he submitted this Road Test to the creators at RoadSpoke.

Thanks Jack Rushton!

Writes Jack Rushton...
In his book "Dave's Way,"  Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas recalls how the family dressed up Melinda Lou, his 8 year old daughter, in a striped dress for the opening of the first location. To make her pigtails stick out, Mom put pipe cleaners in her hair. That's the little red headed girl in the logo.​

Now time for a Road Test: So turn down the radio and listen up!  This Road Test is not easy.  The winner of this  gets a free Frosty at the upcoming Wendy's.  Here now are the Fast Facts:

  
Fast food outlets are all along Interstates. You are all familiar with Wendy’s, Burger Kings, and McDonald’s.  Believe it or not though, back in the 1800’s, establishments that sold just food were almost unheard of.  Eating out was rare if largely unheard of. Everyone ate at home. Eating out  was only something travelers would do and so hotels, inns, or taverns may offer meals to their nightly guests but no one else.


Then just before the Civil War,  fine dining became a thing with rich people but mainly in big cities. Delmonico’s in Manhattan is credited with being one of the first eat-only places. ​

All the fashionable and famous in the Big Apple would gather there to see and be seen.

​Then came the Civil War.  Perhaps it was then with vast segments of the population traveling far from the farm did offering meals for pay become an idea. ​

From the Civil War forward, inns, taverns or saloons would offer food to supplement the sale of their profit centers which was liquor or beer. But except for pickled or salted meats and vegetables,  almost all food was cooked to order.  There was no standardization of meals nor were meals pre- fabricated in industrial capacities.


In the 1950’s Fast Food rose in tandem with high speed travel along interstates. ​

Upcoming is a Wendy’s.  Founded in 1969 in Ohio by Dave Thomas and named for his daughter, Wendy’s claim to fame is being the home of fresh, never frozen beef. The chain is also known for its square hamburgers, sea salt fries, and Frosty, a form of soft-serve ice cream. ​

​Despite being bashful and self effacing Dave held the record for appearing in his own commercials. He starred in them over 800 times. Remarkably his daughter Wendy never did. So while you may be familiar with all types of fast food, eating out, Dave Thomas and even Wendy’s fast food, well you nor anyone in America has ever met Wendy herself.

Now for the answer to the Road Test:


What was the name of Dave Thomas’ daughter… the one for whom Dave named the chain?  If you said Wendy’s you would be wrong. Wendy was just her nick name. Melinda Lou was the lady’s real name.


Now let’s get right to exit to Wendy's.  Just tell 'em Melinda Lou sent you!


#Wendy’s #McDonald’s #JackRushton #DaveThomas #Delmonico’s #BigApple #I95 #RoadTrip

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