email: roadarch@outlook.com

Zesto Drive-ins (page 4)

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former Zesto Drive Inn [gone]
Brookings, SD		 Zesto Shop
Pierre, SD
The Zesto Drive Inn in Brookings apparently replaced its sign at some point. This location opened in 1950. This photo is from 2008. In 2009, this Zesto moved to a modern mall location. By 2011, this building had been remodeled for the Backyard Grill and the Zesto signs were gone.

The Zesto Shop in Pierre has been here since at least 1951. I don't know if the checks on the blue background were original or added later. This business is seasonal. For more, see this website. [map]

Zesto Drive Inn
Watertown, SD

2008:
2022:
The Zesto Drive Inn was built in 1953. The business and this rooftop sign were moved to the current location in 1965. The rooftop sign is about 15 feet long and was built by the Bob Smythe Sign Co. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The ice cream is outlined with white and yellow neon. The Zesto text is lit in red. Originally, the curved panels were outlined with blue. That tubing is missing now. The pole sign was either unique or it was the only one left. That sign was removed around 2018 and replaced with the backlit plastic sign and graphic display. [map]

Zesto
Mitchell, SD
2006: 2022:
This Zesto in Mitchell had opened by the early 1950s. In 2014, business moved to the location shown on the right above. The previous building now houses the Hungry Dog. [map]

former Zesto
Athens, TN
This Zesto was being converted into the Spice of Life Cafe when these photos were taken in 2007. The rooftop sign was repainted. That business had closed by 2011. By 2013, the building was occupied by the Bare's Family Cafe. The sign was repainted again. That restaurant closed in 2013. The building then housed Joe's Italian Cuisine and the sign was painted white. In 2021, the building began housing Luciano's restaurant. The sign was painted black and the cone was painted over. For more, see this website. [map]

More Tennessee:
Knoxville [vintage; gone]

Utah:
Provo [vintage; gone]

Zesto's Burger
& Fish House [gone]
Seattle, WA
The Zesto's Burger & Fish House opened in 1952. It was the last of seven Zesto locations in Seattle. The Zesto's part of the sign revolved. The building is unremarkable. These photos are from 2008. In 2012, Zesto's closed and RoRo BBQ moved into the space. Since 2013, the building has housed the El Camion Adentro restaurant. The Zesto's sign is gone.

If you know of other surviving Zesto locations, I'd love to hear from you.

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