Ted Drewes

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in Saint Louis, Missouri, Route 66 location

Another view of the Route 66 location that illustrates the crowd typically found on a summer evening

Ted Drewes is a chain of frozen custard shops in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The frozen custard franchise was founded by Ted Drewes, Sr. in 1930.^[1] The shop on Chippewa Street (designated as a section of historic U.S. Route 66) is open much of the year, while the South Grand Boulevard location is open from mid-May through late August. In 2014, a third location was opened at St. Louis Ballpark Village next to Busch Stadium.

Frozen custard

The Ted Drewes shops offer all different flavors of custard made with eggs and honey, and add other flavorings and toppings as ordered. Seasonal ingredients such as cherry and pumpkin pie appear for a short period every year.

The shop may be best known for a "concrete": custard blended with any combination of dozens of ingredients, served in a large yellow cup with a spoon and straw. The mixture is so thick that a spoon inserted into the custard does not fall if the cup is inverted.

Ted Drewes frozen custard is also sold in St. Louis-area grocery stores in three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

History

Ted Drewes started making frozen custard while working for a carnival and opened his first fixed location near St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1929.^[2] The first St. Louis shop began serving in 1930 on Natural Bridge Avenue near Goodfellow Blvd. Less than a year later, it was moved westward along the avenue.^[3] A second location was opened at 4224 South Grand Blvd. in 1931. In 1941, a third location opened at 6726 Chippewa Street, on one of the alignments of U.S. Route 66 through St. Louis. The Natural Bridge and Florida locations had closed by 1958.^[4]

For decades, the Grand Avenue location was the flagship store, serving what was then a densely populated urban area in the neighborhood of Dutchtown and near the neighborhoods of Tower Grove South, Gravois Park, Bevo Mill, Holly Hills, and Carondelet. Each year, it would open in April and close on October 31. The Chippewa location served as an outpost near the city limits for travelers heading to or returning from an Ozark weekend getaway. In those days, it was open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

As the population shifted west in the city and to the suburbs, the Chippewa store became the flagship location. Its season extended to more of the year, while the shop on Grand shortened its seasonal operation. In the wake of the transition, the Chippewa Street store expanded its building and bought a neighboring property to accommodate parking. As dessert eating habits have changed, the Chippewa store has stayed open later in the year. It is now closed for the winter only during the month of January. In 2013, it closed briefly owing to a minor electrical fire.^[5] The South Grand location now opens only for the summer months.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Ted Drewes sells live Christmas trees.^[4]

Ted Drewes, Jr., reports that he has fielded numerous requests to turn the small chain into a nationwide franchise, but has refused.^[4]

In 2014, Ted Drewes opened a third location to sell the custard at St. Louis Ballpark Village next to Busch Stadium.^[6][7]

In the press

In 2006, the Route 66 location was featured on the Food Network show Feasting on Asphalt, hosted by Alton Brown.

In 2010, it was recommended by Bobby Flay on the "Sweet Tooth" episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate.

In 2011, it was featured in a special "Route 66" episode of Man v. Food Nation, hosted by Adam Richman.

In 2014, it was awarded the "Riverfront Times" 2014 award for "Best Frozen Custard in St. Louis."

See also

• Frozen custard

Notes

External links

• Official website