B-K Root Beer Drive-In, Piqua, has traditional drive-in style outside ordering. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

B-K Drive-Ins are a remnant of a root beer brand that once rivaled A&W, Frostop and Dog ‘N Suds. Sometimes written as “B&K,” B-K is an independent chain of drive-in fast-food restaurants, featuring draft root beer, hot dogs and ice cream.

The Midwestern chain was founded by Melvin and Mary Bergerson, with the first location built in Wabash, Ind., in 1940 (or Michigan City, Ind., depending on what version of root beer history you read). The B-K name stands for “Bergerson & Kenefick.”

At one time, there were 238 B-K drive-ins in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Currently there are about 35 locations remaining, all independently owned and operated.

B-Ks are known for Spanish Dogs, similar to coney dogs or chili dogs (some, not all, have this on their menus). Spanish sauce is a spicy concoction similar to chili, coney sauce or sloppy joe. Unlike coneys, a true Spanish dog is unadorned with cheese, mustard, relish or onions – just the sauce.

There are six B-K locations in Ohio, each independently owned and operated. View a video about drive-in restaurants in Ohio and read more about them at Dusty Tires.

• 2184 Manchester Road, Akron (330) 753-3674. (No current Facebook page)
• 737 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls (330) 922-3355. Website / Connect on Facebook
• 1407 South St., Piqua (937) 773-0252. Connect on Facebook
• 301 Riverside Drive, Sidney (937) 492-7886. Connect on Facebook
• 2780 Stone Circle Drive, Troy (937) 335-8000. Connect on Facebook
• 835 W. Main St., Van Wert (419) 238-1685. Connect on Facebook

Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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