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Swenson’s Drive-In originated back in 1933, when founder Wesley T. “Pop” Swenson began selling his tasty hamburgers from the back of his station wagon. He went on to open his first real shop the following year, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In the years since, the regional chain has grown to seven stores throughout Akron, Canton and Cuyahoga Falls. The cheeseburger has been voted “the best in America,” and the drive-in parking lots stay packed with fans obsessed by the retro-comfort food.

Ironically, Swenson’s is going back to the mobile delivery system that started it all. The restaurant has unleashed a food truck to bring its award-winning Galley Boys directly to the people.

“The demand for our catering has grown so large that we needed to go mobile,” says manager Jeffrey Flowers.

The idea to purchase a food truck was intended to alleviate pressure off the existing stores, which have been pumping out burgers for special events in addition to their regular loads.

“It is challenging to prepare 200 to 400 burgers at our stores while they are in operation,” notes Flowers.

And it’s not just those incredible burgers: The food truck will offer the very same menu that diners have come to know and love at all the shops.

“From burgers to milkshakes — if you can get it at Swenson’s, you can get it on our truck,” says Flowers.

Keep tabs on the rig’s whereabouts by following it on Twitter here @SwenFoodTruck.

This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2013.

Jason Beudert has had a dynamic career as a leader with The Walt Disney Company, ESPNZone, The Cleveland Indians, and as a restaurant entrepreneur. He is utilizing his twenty years of hospitality experience along with his love for the Cleveland food scene to contribute exciting and insightful food pieces for Scene. Along with being one of our food writers, Jason is also the food critic for WOIO 19 Action News, and makes a weekly appearance on Q104's Fee's Kompany radio show to promote food and the Scene. Jason is also a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure Magazine.

15 replies on “Swenson’s Drive-In Hits the Streets on New Food Truck”

  4. I’m glad they found a way to put $100K plus into a food truck. At least they didn’t waste it on something frivolous like healthcare for their workers. Oh wait- they don’t need to, as they’ll be cutting everyone back to 25-30 hours to duck the Obamacare mandate.

  6. I live near St. Augustine, Florida where there is a “food truck war” going on tomorrow with 40 different food trucks. I don’t twitter so can someone let me know if by some miracle Swenson’s may have a truck there? There are at least two former Swenson’s curb boys in the area that would love to have a galley boy~my husband is one of them:)

  8. Please drive cross country to Las Vegas and share the wonderful tastiness of Swenson’s!!!!

  11. Swensons is awesome and they make some crazy tasty food. This is an awesome thing for Cleveland and anyone else that happens to be in the vicinity of that food truck when it’s open for business.

  12. Rockwall, TX please! (Go to Dallas and turn left.) We only get back to Akron every several years (sigh!).

  14. Bring it to Hilton Head!!!! Most of us are from Ohio anyway! You will have lines two blocks long

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