Junior’s Drive-In Restaurant
by Andy Piascik
In the second half of the 20th century, a change took place in the landscape of American dining as the places where we went out for a casual meal changed to “fast food” establishments. Like many industries, food service became increasingly monopolized. In a matter of a few decades, McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza and other national chains proliferated at such a rate that they seem to be everywhere, with no end in sight. Displaced were the familiar diners, hot dog stands and pizza parlors people had come to love. Even older, folksy chains like Howard Johnson’s that emphasized leisurely meals rather than cold utility were unable to withstand the rise of the fast-food giants.
Bridgeporters who had grown up going to places like Conti’s, the Flyer Diner, the Ritz Luncheonette and Beechmont Dairy gradually saw many such establishments disappear. Some remain: Tomlinson’s and the Merritt Canteen, to name two.
Junior’s Drive-In Restaurant was established in 1960 by three Bridgeport business men: Harold Applebaum, Morris Applebaum and Abraham Strauss. A Bridgeport Post article at the time Junior’s opened noted that “Strauss was formerly in the wholesale hardware business for 17 years” and that “Morris Applebaum is in the real estate business and Harold Applebaum is associated with Fairfield Stationery.” (1) Junior’s was located on Fairfield Avenue where the avenue converges with State Street, Railroad Avenue, what is now Commerce Drive (formerly State Street Extension) immediately adjacent to the Metro North railroad tracks.
Senior Portions at Junior Prices
There were ads in the Bridgeport papers announcing the coming of Junior’s in the days leading up to the opening. A larger ad on the big day announced the GRAND OPENING and that JUNIORS IS HERE!!! in bold capital letters and exclamation points, with promises of SENIOR
PORTIONS AT JUNIOR PRICES and a special offer of FREE DRINKS WITH EVERY PURCHASE. (2)
The menu was straightforward, with hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries and onion rings the most popular items. There was always a pot of hot, spicy chili on hand to put on the hot dogs as well as cheese slices for making cheeseburgers. Also featured were steak sandwiches, fried fish sandwiches and fried shrimp baskets. Junior’s didn’t offer ice cream but did sell chocolate, strawberry and vanilla milkshakes as well as soda, coffee and tea. The staples – hot dogs and hamburgers – sold for 20 cents each in 1960.
A Local Boy Finds a Favorite Eatery
Rich Hencsei was living close by on Howard Avenue and attending Maplewood Grammar School when Junior’s opened. Always up for a good burger, he made a point of going there for something to eat on the very first day.
“I remember going by there and seeing a big banner that said COMING SOON – JUNIOR’S RESTAURANT,” Hencsei recalled. “I don’t remember what was on that site before Junior’s but I was excited about having a place nearby with good, cheap food. I went on the day it opened.” Hencsei went back many more times over the next three decades including, as it turned out, on the last day Junior’s was in business.
Junior’s was located near a number of the factories that were thriving on Bridgeport’s West Side during the city’s industrial heyday. Located close by were Hubbell, United Pattern, Casco, Bead Chain and others. Biggest of all was Bryant Electric that covered a large stretch of land, part of which is now home to Chaves Bakery, while a short distance away was Bullard’s, another large factory on the Bridgeport/Fairfield border in a building now occupied by BJs.
Workers would often stop in for food on meal breaks. Sometimes they would call ahead so the food was ready when they arrived, which was important for those with limited time. Many also stopped in for a meal before and/or after work.
Sorry, No Carhops
Though the name of the restaurant was Junior’s Drive-In, there were no drive-up windows where people could order from their cars. There were also no carhops on roller skates to bring food orders to customers, a phenomenon that was very popular when Junior’s opened.
The Workforce
The workers at Junior’s were a mix of people of different ages including young people from local high schools and colleges who worked around their class schedules — usually afternoons, evenings and weekends. Others were employed full-time at one of the nearby factories and then worked another eight hours at Junior’s. The pay was not great, with younger workers earning the minimum wage and the adults not much more.
Several managers, meanwhile, worked at Junior’s throughout most of its existence until they were well into their sixties. Ray Silverstone, for example, was a day shift manager who worked at Junior’s throughout most of its 29 years. Together with his wife Miriam, Silverstone took the bus to and from his home on the East Side five days a week. Both Ray and Miriam worked at Junior’s until just a few years before it closed.
The End
The decline of Junior’s parallels the decline of the factories around it, most of which were gone when Junior’s closed in 1989. Rich Henscei had worked at several of those factories and was still living nearby when he got the bad news.
“There was a story on the front page of the Bridgeport Post that Junior’s was closing,” Hencsei said. “I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had to go one more time.” He did, on the very last day, before Junior’s closed its doors for good.
A McDonald’s stands where Junior’s once was. According to various internet sources, there are presently over 45,000 McDonald’s restaurants around the world including 137 in Connecticut and four in Bridgeport. By contrast, there was one, and only one, Junior’s Drive-In.
Thanks to Rich Henscei for sharing his memories of Junior’s
NOTES
1. “3 Partners Open New Restaurant” Bridgeport Post July 7, 1960, page 16.
2. Bridgeport Post July 8, 1960, page 31.
Bridgeport native Andy Piascik is an award-winning author whose most recent book is Radical Connecticut: People’s History in the Constitution State, with Steve Thornton. He can be reached at andypiascik@aol.com.
