Busch's Round Table was a familiar sight on South Tacoma Way for many years. Previously known as Busch's Drive In which featured car hop service, it had evolved into a dine-in restaurant by 1965. Shields and lions decorating the exterior and the new name, "Round Table," evoked association with Old English traditions. Photograph ordered by the Weyerhaeuser Co.

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Busch's Drive In restaurant on South Tacoma Way. Busch's had long been a Tacoma landmark famous for its car hops, waitresses that came directly to your car to take and deliver orders. They also featured dine in service. Built in 1936 as the Triple XXX Barrel and purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the building remains today.

Buschs Drive In (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma;

Night exposure- Busch's Drive-In. It appears that patrons preferred to dine in at Busch's Drive-In on a cold winter's night. Busch's provided both curb-side service and interior dining at their South Tacoma Way restaurant. Extensive neon lighting would make the restaurant visible for several blocks. Purchased by Bill & Thelma Busch in 1943, the restaurant was a popular spot for both young and old alike. It was later renamed Busch's Round Table Restaurant. Photograph ordered by Busch's Drive-In Restaurant.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);

In October of 1956, three, smiling uniformed carhops pose single handedly wielding trays loaded with food and treats at the Buschs Drive In at 3505 So. Tacoma Way. Bill and Thelma Busch bought the former Triple XXX Barrel Restaurant in 1943 and made it into the cruising capital of 1950's Tacoma. Carhops delivered burgers, fries and shakes right to the window of your car, so that teens could see and be seen and young families did not have to fret with crying babies. In addition to burgers, the restaurant also served breakfast, chicken pot pies and steaks. The carhop at the far right was Ellissa Quaschnik at the time this photo was taken; the carhop at the far left was named Marie.

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ca. 1941. A carhop served a foaming mug of Root Beer to a "woody" station wagon at the Kruger's Triple XXX Root Beer Barrel drive-in restaurant in South Tacoma. Frank J, Kruger had opened at this location in 1936. If car service was not for you, the restaurant also had booths and stools indoors.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Triple XXX Barrel (Tacoma); Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Kruger's Triple XXX Root Beer Barrel drive-in restaurant in South Tacoma. On June 4, 1941, six young carhops in uniforms and boots lined up in front of the building with neon signs on cornice and giant root beer barrels on roof. There are automobiles parked in front of restaurant which was owned and operated by Frank J. Kruger. It had celebrated its grand opening in October of 1936. The drive-in was sold to Bill and Thelma Busch in 1943 and became familiarly known as Busch's Round Table Restaurant.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Triple XXX Barrel (Tacoma); Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Six carhops wearing capes with gold braid, short skirts and white cowboy boots served the cars in front of Kruger's Triple XXX Root Beer Barrel drive-in at 3505 South Tacoma Way in June of 1941. Frank J. Kruger opened his new Triple XXX Barrel restaurant in October 1936 with free root beer to one and all. He came west with a Triple XXX Barrel franchise in August of 1931 and had opened at a smaller location. The new building was 55' x 41' with both booths and stools indoors. There was room in their parking lot for at least 300 cars. In 1943 the building was purchased by Bill and Thelma Busch and became Busch's Drive-In.(T.Times, 10/23/1936)

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Busch's Drive In, South Tacoma Star. You needn't be a teenager to enjoy the treats from Busch's: zombie sundaes, sodas, floats, 10 cent hamburgers, fries and hot dogs. A young woman in the automobile wearing a hat with a striking feather is ready to enjoy a cool drink brought to her car by the car hop, wearing a visored cap. The car hop would come to your car and take your order when they saw your car enter. The order was delivered to your car with a tray that attached to the driver's side window. When ready to leave the driver would flash their headlights or give the horn a short blast and the car hop would come and take the tray and empty dishes away. Bill and Thelma Busch opened the drive-in restaurant in 1943 located on Old Hiway 99.

Busch's Drive In (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Waitresses--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The 1950s were cruising years for teenagers in everywhere USA. Carhops delivered burgers and cokes on trays that attached to rolled-down car windows. Cruising was car hopping--teenagers met friends and wannabe friends at these 1950s social gathering places. In Tacoma, Busch's Drive-In restaurant was the place to be on Saturday nights. Bill and Thelma Busch bought the former Triple XXX Barrel Restaurant in 1943 and it remains today as Busch's Restaurant along with the memories of "cruising". TPL-830

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Night photographs; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Buschs Drive In (Tacoma);