Katie Byard| For the Akron Beacon Journal
We’ve got big news about this little root beer stand that has persevered.
For this first time in its 67 years, the B&K Root Beer drive-in in Cuyahoga Falls, a neighborhood staple, will stay open all year. Previously — each year since 1953 — the stand closed in the fall.
Loyal customers who in years past have stocked up on pints and quarts of coney dog sauce for the winter are rejoicing.
“We’ve weathered the storm. Alot of these smaller businesses have not made it," through the COVID-19 pandemic, said Scott Reynolds, who, along with his wife, Christy, owns the old school place at 737 Munroe Falls Ave.
The Reynolds purchased the business in 2015, becoming independent operators of the B&K that years ago was part of the long disbanded B&K drive-in chain.
“This has been our best year ever,” Reynolds said, noting he wants to keep the momentum going. “We’ve been very fortunate with all our loyal customers” and new ones that discovered the place’s coney (Spanish) dogs, kraut dogs, hamburgers that are made fresh upon ordering, soft-serve ice cream and more.
“I can walk here if the weather gets too bad,” said customer Larry Dean, 79, who became a regular about four months ago, after moving nearby to the stand, tucked in a neighborhood.
Last week, Dean, a retired warehouse and inventory manager, drove to the B&K to pick up lunch for himself and his wife. He got his regular order: one coney dog ($2.40), one kraut dog ($2.40), a hamburger ($2.80) and fries ($1.65 for a small order; $2.25 for a large).
Americans are craving more comfort foods during the pandemic, food industry officials say, and the B&K offers familiar eats.
Familiar — but upgraded — Reynolds says.
Since taking over in 2015, Reynolds, 45, and his wife have kept the vintage vibe — freshening up the familiar orange and brown paint — while making changes.
The stand now serves one-third pound burgers (larger than before the Reynolds took over) that are formed with the hamburger press that Christy Reynolds’ grandmother used.
Buns are from Lakemore's Ideal Bakery.
“They stand up to our burgers,” Scott Reynoldssaid.
Hamburgers — previously only offered on Tuesdays — are now on the daily menu.
Also joining the daily menu is soft-serve ice cream. One flavor is offered each week.
I am happy to report I have added the B&K to my list of fave area burger places. I brought a couple of cheeseburgers home (including one with grilled onions) for my hubby and me to eat. The stand’s burgers are straightforward and filling. And, yes, I enjoyed the bun that melded nicely with the cheese and meat, but did hold up.
We also enjoyed a kraut dog (a hotdog topped with homemade sauerkraut that has a sweet flavor), a coneydog (topped with homemade coney sauce) and french fries.
Sides — including french fries, tater tots, onion rings, mozzarella cheese sticks — are now deep fried. Previously, they were cooked using an air method without grease. Reynolds said customers wanted that classic fried taste.
The stand’s side of sauerkraut balls isfrom Akron-based Ascot Foods, with roots in the formerBunny “B” Sauerkraut Balls & Ice Co.
“It was rough for the first few years” after the couple bought the stand in 2015, Reynolds said.
He noted the business’ finances were stretched with the purchase of new equipment, including new freezers and refrigerators.
“We didn’t really know what we were doing at first,” he said.
Reynolds, a maintenance supervisor at the Ford Motor Co. plant in Brook Park, and his wife, Christy, a nurse, were looking for an investment when Christy spotted an advertisement saying the stand was for sale.
The idea of running a family business appealed to them. Their children Scott, a fireman;Brian; and Madison, a college student, all work at the stand.
Brian’s availability to work full-time at the stand now is helping to drive the decision to stay open all year.
The stand is one of three independently operated B&Ks in the area.
Initially the stands were part of the B&Kchain, which began in Michigan City, Ind., in the 1940s. B&Kstands for Bergerson & Kenefick.
Sheila Trombka, a part-time cook at the Cuyahoga Falls stand, is a daughter of Al and Cathy Emich, who acquired the stand in 1958 and sold it in 1996 toVic and Dixie Davis, who sold the stand to Scott and Christy Reynolds in 2015.
Trombka has worked at the stand for virtually her whole life. She learned to wash root beer mugs when she was 5 years old and when she was 9, she ran the register. By the time she was 11,she was a carhop. Now her sons, James, 22, and Jonathan, 18, work part-time there.
“She showed us the ropes. We love her to death,” Scott Reynolds said.
“I came with the building,” Trombka said.
About B&K in Cuyahoga Falls
Address: 737 Munroe Falls Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 pm. Tuesday through Saturday - now, all year.
Phone: 330-922-3355
See the stand’s Facebook page for specials.
New downtown eatery
Evelyn’s Coffee & BánhMi has opened at11 E. Exchange St., inthe space behind the Goodwill blue boutique on Main Street in downtown Akron.
The space previously housed coffee shops, including Wholly Joe.
So what is a bánh mi?
Bánh mi is the Vietnamese word for bread, and also — in this case — refers to the popular Vietnamese baguette sandwich (think sub sandwich on crusty, light bread), typically featuring a meat and pickled vegetables.
French colonists introduced the baguette to Vietnam, but the Vietnamese have made the sandwich their own, creating many versions.
At Evelyn’s, I enjoyed a chicken bánh that included pickled carrots, cucumber and cilantro ($5.50). You can also get a beef or meatball bánhmi.
Eveylyn’s also offers kimbap, a Korean dishof seasoned rice with fish cakes, carrots, egg and spinach rolled in seaweed. Other offerings include smoothies, papaya salad and a Vietnamese salad made with shredded cabbage, chicken, carrots and onion. It comes with a sweet and tangy dressing.
The shop offers Vietnamese iced coffee (made with sweetened condensed milk), along with a variety of other coffee drinks.
Vinh Nguyen, a local physician, opened the place this summer, taking advantage of the Start Downtown program operated by the nonprofit Downtown Akron Partnership. The program provides six months of support, including rent subsidies, in the 42-bock Special Improvement District in downtown Akron.
Evelyn’s is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Phone is 330-849-5080.
See Evelyn’s web page --https://www.evelynscoffee.comfor more information and to order online.
West Side Bakery's Apple Week
This week is Apple Week at the West Side Bakery in Akron, celebrating 25 years in business this year.
Barb Talevich, who owns the bakery with her husband, Steve, said she expects to go through some fiveor six bushels of Golden Delicious apples from Bauman Orchards in Rittman to make a variety of apple treats.
Available now: Apple cobbler, apple hand pies, caramel apples, apple cobbler tea bread, apple coffee cake, cinnamon apple cheesecake and apple-frangipane galette (an apple tart featuring an almond pastry cream).
Apple fritters will be available this Friday and Saturday.
It’s the only time of the year these fried treats are available.
Talevich happily reported that the bakery’s employment roster is now back up to more than 20 full- and part-time workers.
For a time during the ongoing pandemic, she and and her husband were the only workers, and the shop was only open on Saturdays.
The shop, at 2303 W. Market St., is now open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday — pickup only. Phone is 330-836-4101.
ThaiSoul Fusion Grill relocates
ThaiSoul Fusion Grill has moved to 992 Kenmore Boulevard in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood.
That’s the space that previously housed Lil’ Bit Cafe, which closed earlier this year. It apparently was not able to withstand the negative financial impact of the ongoing pandemic.
We’ll have more soon on ThaiSoul Fusion Grill, which, as its name suggests,offers Thai eats, as well as soul food.
Owners are Tawon and Patricia Burton. They most recently operated the eatery in Stark County, after running it out of space on Romig Roadnear the site of the former Rolling Acres Mall.
Phone is 330-937-8846. Online ordering is athttps://www.thaisoulfusiongrill.com.
The restaurant is only open for pickup at this time.
Wise Guys' clambake
Wise Guys Lounge & Grill in Akron’s North Hill will offer a clambake from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Cost is $55 for clams, mussels, crab legs, potato, a half check, corn and clam chowder.
Add lobster for $10.
Guys, known for its wide selectionof wine, is at 1008 N. Main St. Phone is 330-922-3006.
Harvest Mart at Lock 3
Harvest Mart — featuring food and non-edible items — will debut at Lock 3 park off Main Street in downtown Akron on Saturday.
It’ll run from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24.
See the Harvest Mart at Lock 3 Facebook page for more information.
Akron'sJ Hudson, an experienced organizer of markets, is coordinating the event.
Hormone-free chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and beef, as well as pumpkins, gourds, apples, late-summer produce and more,will be available.
Cast your vote for favorite burger
You can vote for your favorite burger —among two choices — at Bob's Hamburg in Akron.
In its "Keeping Burgers Great 2020" election, you vote by buying the quarter pound burger with Swiss cheese and jalapenos or the burger with American cheese, ketchup, onions and mustard. A portion of each sale—each burger costs $6.35 — will go to Akron Children's Hospital.
Voting continues through Nov 2. The winner will be revealed Election Day, Nov.3.
Bob's is at 1351 East Ave., near Interstate 76.
Last call at Louie's
As reported by Beacon Journal staff writer Alan Ashworth last week, this month. The 28-year-old Louie's, known for its burgers, cited COVID-19 restrictions in its decision to close.
Last day for customers is Saturday.
Thanks for the memories.
Send your local food news to Katie Byard at msakron@sbcglobal.net.
