After nearly 70 years of serving up smashburgers, malts and onion rings just east of downtown, Harold’s Drive-In (1337 Admiral Blvd.) will close 2024 out by closing its doors.
Owner Deb Walker said the landlord wanted to raise her rent and they couldn’t work out an agreement.
“I’ve been struggling to pay what he wants anyway and when you start doing that it is time to go,” she said. “It’s hard. Change is hard and it’s very emotional.”
Harold’s serves breakfast all day including sausage and egg sandwiches, and biscuits and gravy.
It also has cheeseburgers, pork tenderloins, hand-breaded-daily Italian steak sandwiches, fish sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, chili dogs, onion rings, fries, tots, malts and shakes, and soft serve ice cream.
The end of business Dec. 31 will be its last day. Walker hopes to say farewell to regulars and “sell out of everything.”
Until then, hours are 7 am to 2 pm, Mondays through Fridays. It is closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Harold’s is one of only a few 1950-1960s era drive-ins still operating in the metro, including Mugs Up Drive In in Independence, Humdinger Drive-In, Paul’s Drive In and Christy’s Tasty Queen in Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Walker, Harold and Pat McBain started selling ice cream and hot dogs in the space in 1958 under the Harold’s Dairy Supreme banner.
Nancy Smith worked there from about 1986 to 1989, then returned in 1998. A year later Harold turned to her, asking if she was ready to buy the place. He was tired.
She was ready and soon changed the name to Harold’s Drive-In.
Walker had worked at Walmart for 16 years before joining Harold’s in 2003. She took it over in 2020, right before the pandemic.
“We were closed for six weeks. It was bad. I was just trying to keep Harold’s going,” she said. “Sometimes people will just come by for a hug, a smile or a ‘You look nice.’ I look back and I learned a lot working there. Just from people in general. I’ve learned empathy, that I’m no better than anyone else walking around out there.”The landlord couldn’t be reached for comment. But the 609-square-foot building (circa 1949), five blocks east of the downtown loop, is now listed for sale for $425,000, including equipment and a parking lot with 10 spaces. It is by the Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus and the Rodeway Inn.
