Northeast Ohio lost another piece of culinary history over the weekend when Skyway Drive-In closed its doors in Fairlawn. The beloved burger restaurant opened in 1952 and, at its height, operated locations in Fairlawn, Green, Medina and Stow. Fairlawn – the first and the last – closed with 74 years of business under its belt.
Skyway, like its friendly competition Swensons, featured carhops who would shuttle food from the drive-in to the car window. While curb service is alive and well at Swensons, the system of service has pretty much become extinct thanks to drive-thru windows.
“For more than seven decades, Skyway has been so much more than a restaurant – it has been a tradition, a gathering place, and a piece of our community’s story,” owner Steve Large said in a public statement. “What began in 1952 with Pop Ross’s dream and hard work grew into something truly special. Long before drive-in restaurants became a trend, this place was serving fresh food and friendly smiles from the car window.”
The restaurant, which attracted generations of burger lovers thanks to classics such as the double-decker Sky-Hi with special sauce, was founded by Ross Large and Ruth Schaff.
“Pop Ross and Aunt Ruth built more than a business,” Large continued. “They built a legacy founded on hard work, quality, and treating every customer like family. That legacy was lovingly passed from one generation to the next, each carrying forward the same pride, dedication, and commitment to serving the community.”
The property will become to Dutch Brothers Coffee, a national chain with literally thousands of locations, thus advancing the “same-ification” of America. As we lose more and more of our one-of-a-kind, home-grown, family run businesses, we begin to lose the local traditions that customarily take place at those types of businesses.
“[Skyway] wasn’t just a place to grab a meal – it was where first dates happened, Little League victories were celebrated, families made Friday-night traditions, and generations returned with children and grandchildren of their own,” noted Large. “For countless people, the taste of one of a Ski Hi or a milkshake instantly brings back memories of warm summer evenings, classic cars, laughter with friends, and the feeling of home. Those memories are the true measure of what Skyway became.”
Now, those memories are all that remain for countless Northeast Ohio families.
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