WAGNER’S/GALAXY DRIVE-IN

In past years, seventh grade geography students at the St. Louis Park Junior High were asked to pick and research a subject of St. Louis Park history and submit a report on it. Alise Hofstad-Parkhill picked Wagner’s Drive-In at 3712 Quebec Ave. With her permission, this account is based on her report. Please contact us with any additions or corrections.

 

BUD’S DAIRY-MOR

 

On June 20, 1951, P.M. Roles received a permit to build this drive in restaurant for Edgar O. “Bud” Rodberg, proprietor of Bud’s Dairy-Mor #1, located at 5060 Excelsior Blvd. at Highway 100.  This building would be Bud’s Dairy-Mor #2, as listed in the 1952 St. Louis Park directory.

 

The location at 3712 Quebec Ave. was at the intersection of Highway 7 and Quebec Ave. The permit indicated a cost of $3,500 to construct the building. The builder was George Fernholm. The Grand Opening was held on April 24, 1952; an ad from the Dispatch has a picture.

 


 

OAK HILL DRIVE-IN

In 1954, Bud and Jean Rodberg changed the name of the place to the Oak Hill Drive In.  The following two pictures are from April 1954.

 

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The photo below may be from a bit later, as it shows the Oak Hill Drive Inn with two big billboards on the roof.

 

 

At that time a burger cost 20 cents, a hot dog 10 cents, French fries 10 cents, and a pop 5 cents.

 

SCHLACTER AND KAPINSKI’S?

 

The Rodbergs sold the building to Dick Kapinski and Don Schlacter in about 1961. The 1960 directory lists Rodberg only the proprietor of the Dairy-Mor, so it may have been earlier than that.

 

Permit No. 179 indicates that they built a steel awning covering the parking and picnic area. Ted Meland says “It was commonly referred to as Schlacter & Kapinski’s, quite a mouthful but we got used to it.”

 

[An ad in a fall 1962 issue of the Echo features a hip cat in a tux, requesting “Another cat-nip blitz, if you please… an exclusive at… Oak Hill Drive-in.]

 

In 1963, Dick and Don sold the Oak Hill Drive-in to Pete Rhodes. [Jim Clifford (Class of ’66) was the manager during the ’60s and remembers that Roger Dobbs and Dick Erickson were the owners.]  Pete kept it until 1979 when he sold it to Ed and Annalise Wagner.

 


 

WAGNER’S

 

The Wagners changed the name to Wagner’s Drive-in, and also expanded the menu. For example, they added chicken and roast beef. They also added a 30 ft. setback of grass to the property (letter, April 8, 1975).

 

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The photos below were taken in 1994 by Emory Anderson

 

 

 

 

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Unfortunately, after 22 years, the Wagners had to sell the Drive Inn because their son needed a kidney transplant and the sale would pay the bills. Food brokers Bob Keening and Curt bought Wagner’s in about 1999. In 2001 they sold it to Jayne and Al Wohl. By 2003, the Wohls had increased the quality of Wagner’s food to where it was acknowledged by the Mpls St. Paul Magazine as the number one burger in the Twin Cities.

 

 


 

THE GALAXY

 

In 2009 the drive in was purchased for $100,000 by Steve Schussler of Schussler Creative, whose office was located across Highway 7.  Schussler had been the impetus behind many themed restaurants around the country, such as the Rainforest Cafe, Green Acres, the Hot Dog Hall of Fame, and Juke Box Saturday Night.   Schussler made extensive renovations and has changed the name to the Galaxy Drive In.

 

 

2015 Photo by Emory Anderson
2015 Photo by Emory Anderson

 

 

2015 Photo by Emory Anderson
2015 Photo by Emory Anderson

 

The Galaxy even had a fire pit and special treats at a dog park.

 


 

WELLS ROADSIDE

 

News in early 2024 is that the Drive Inn that has been vacant in recent years will be opened again, year-round, with beer and wine options.  Co-owners are Luke Derheim and David Benowitz.