Dean's Drive-In closes after 27 years

REARDAN - Dean's Drive-In, a food business with deep roots in the community, served its last Double Deluxe Hamburger and chocolate milkshake on Thursday, Aug. 31.

After 27 years at the helm, owners Dean and Robin Landreth put the business up for sale.

The drive-in was built in 1962 and was originally called Stan's before it changed hands and was renamed Roy's. Later, Dean Doerschlag bought it and named it after himself.

After Dean Landreth, who grew up in Reardan, and Robin married in 1987, they pondered the idea of one day owning a business that they could work in as a family. And in 1996, when Doerschlag put the drive-in on the market, they purchased it.

Since Dean Landreth's first name was already on the sign, it remained Dean's Drive-In.

Because Dean owned and operated Coyote Corporation Contractors and Engineers, the day-to-day operation of the drive-in fell on Robin.

"The first few years were rough," she said.

Fortunately for her, her mother Betty Bisson, and sister Candy Rust came alongside to help her with the frequent 16-hour workdays.

Over the ensuing years, Robin hired her daughters Rachel, Sarah and Jadyn, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins to flip hamburgers and clean tables.

"I'm guessing more than 20 family members have worked here," Robin said.

She also employed scads of friends, high school kids and community members, all of whom she "tried to treat as family."

Rusty and Sandy Warwick held the record for the longest tenure at 23 and 21 years, respectively.

"COVID was a difficult time for our business," Robin said.

She had to close the dining room, which meant the "village elders," a group of mostly retired farmers who came in every morning since 1996 to "drink coffee and gossip" had to find a new gathering place.

Retired local Ed Brommer said Robin and her crew treated the morning regulars like family.

"They were so good to us," Brommer said. "Sandy made the most wonderful breakfast. It was sad when COVID forced us to find a new place to meet."

"Dean's was such an important part of the community," local farmer Fred Fleming added. "With their closure, we have lost a piece of history."

The drive-in received several awards over the years. In March 2006, The Inlander newspaper recognized Dean's as having "The best burger in the shadow of a grain elevator." In 2007, Journal News Publishing listed Robin as one of the area's successful women in business and in 1999 the drive-in was featured in a national Audi car commercial.

On its last day of business customers flocked to the drive-in to express their gratitude to the Landreths.

"We had 400-500 customers for the day which doubled what we typically got on Mule Days," Robin Landreth said. "Seeing our loyal customers all show up on the same day was crazy."

The rush of customers also helped deplete their inventory before the final closing.

"We ran out of cups, lids and fry sauce," she said.

While waiting for his food, Scott Peone of Ford recalled that as a child his parents often stopped by the drive-in for a treat. As a parent he did the same for his children.

"It's a bummer that they are closing," he said. "Dean's is a local icon. It is one of the last mom and pop places."

James Seyler from Wellpinit said he'd been eating at the drive-in for 45 years.

"I have great memories of this place," he said. "It was exciting when my dad would stop in so we could get a burger and shake. It's sad to see it close. The Landreths are nice folks and have done so much for the kids, the high school and community."

Two high school teachers visited Dean's at lunchtime and returned to the school with burgers and fries.

Staff member Andrea McLaughlin said, "Please just let me have one last Dean's fry," before reaching into one of their bags to grab some.

Robin Landreth's greatest joy the past 27 years has been the opportunity to work side-by-side with her family.

"I will treasure that most of all," she said.

Her biggest regret is that with the drive-in's closure, her young grandchildren will not get to join her in that experience.

"It's sad closing because we've been here so many years and have made so many friends," she said. "I'm just glad I can take my memories with me. I never knew how much our business meant to people until I started reading their comments on social media. We are grateful to the community for their patronage and friendship. I thought our only contribution to the community was that we provided food. Apparently, it was more than that."

The Landreths are proud of the drive-in's reputation and the family legacy that they leave behind.

"I'm hopeful someone will buy our business and continue the legacy we started," Robin Landreth said. "I will wish them success and ask them to treat their customers well."

The business is being sold for $400,000 and is listed with Brenda McKinley of Windermere Real Estate.