Swensons burger chain to mark 90th anniversary with special menu items
It’s been some 90 years since Akronites first got their taste of a Swensons burger.
Back then, Wesley T. “Pop” Swenson and Guy Whitt were flipping burgers and selling them out of the back of a car near Akron’s Buchtel High School.
The family-owned chain has since expanded beyond Akron and now has restaurants with its signature curb service in Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis.
“For nine decades, we’ve been able to carry on and grow the legacy of Wesley T. ‘Pop’ Swenson, thanks to the hard work of former and current team members and incredible support from our neighborhood communities and guests, both old and new,” said Swensons CEO Jeff Flowers. “Celebrating 90 years is our way of saying thank you to everyone. Whether you’re a lifelong Swenatic with deep nostalgia or a newcomer ready to discover the magic of Swensons for the first time, we’re bringing the party right to your car window.” To mark its 90th year in business, Swensons is offering some special menu items to honor the occasion.
A special Birthday Boy Burger will be on the menu from April 29 to June 16. The burger will be a threepatty version of the signature Galley Boy.
Starting June 17 through Aug. 11, Swensons will offer a special Birthday Cake Milkshake that will boast a confetti cake flavor with a double shot of sprinkles.
Swensons also will offer commemorative 90th anniversary glasses at its Akron and Canton locations on July 1.
And plans are underway to host a reunion of current and former workers in September at the restaurant chain’s original Akron location on South Hawkins Avenue.
A lot has changed in the world over the years, Flowers said, but some things remain the same.
“We’re still sprinting and smiling and more importantly, we’re still using Pop’s same recipe, right down to the size of burgers and the secret ingredients,” he said. “We’ve even been using the same bakery for our buns for more than 50 years.”