A & W Drive In
1956-11-16 - Two Ritzville school teachers, Clyde W. Buehler and John F. Garcia, propose to build an A & W root beer stand on the highway a few blocks east of the M-N-M. They say that some of the work is beginning. The building permit was approved by city council pending the approval of the city building inspector.
The A & W root beer stand will not open until June 1, but work is being done so that the partners may finish the interior in their space time this winter.
1957-06-28 - A & W Will Hold Grand Opening
A grand opening, the second in Cheney this month, is planned at the A & W root beer stand on Main street at the east end of town for June 28.
Proprietors Clyde W. Buehler and John F. Garcia of Ritzville, school teachers, said that the grand opening would be an all-day affair with free balloons for the kids and free root beer with all orders.
The stand, which was built last winter, was finished by the proprietors this spring, and opened full time with the closing of school this spring.
Featuring car service and take-home orders, the stand's menu includes regular drive-in fountain dishes, including burgers and hot dogs, plus take-home root beer.
Opened at 1420 1st Street, Everson was a one-time owner.
The Drive In closed in the autumn and reopened in March with the nicer weather.
1962-08-24: Burglars who appeared to be setting up housekeeping made off with close to $100 in food and supplies from the A & W Root Beer stand in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. A back door was forced to gain entry.
A variety of loot was taken, ranging from ham and cheese to cigarettes, paper towels, toilet tissue, and several boxes of headache remedy. The thieves were thwarted in their search more money.
Owner, Grover Black also reported the back door was damaged to the extent that it had to be replaced.
Aiding Police Chief J.A. Crawford in the investigation are sheriff's detectives.
1962-10-12
1962-10-19: Cheney's A & W Root Beer stand, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Grover (Bonnie) Black, has received a Certificate of Merit for the 1962 season from the A & W Root Beer Company.
F.R. Loetterle, company official, said company representatives grade each A & W on cleanliness, sanitation, quality of operation, and 13 other specific areas, and only those outlets which pass without a discrepancy are entitled to the certificate.
1970-08-11:
1971
Original A&W
Rick Prentice: Could never forget that Dick the A&W used to be next to Holmes lumber yard and where napa auto parts built. My sister Barbra skated there in the late fifty and early sixties. Brother Charles would always tap his brakes while i was standing up in the front seat of his car causing me to wear most of the ice cream cone. LOL
Richard Streeter: Rick you are correct! Then it became Rogers Auto Parts. When you parked on that steep hill, the tray they put on your window, the root beer ran out of the glass it was so steep!