BYRON, Ill. (WIFR) – A tray holding a milkshake, burger and root beer sticks out the window of a cherry-red classic car. You can’t eat any of the plastic food, but hundreds around the display digest memories of Sam’s Drive-In in Byron.
“Everybody just remembers it. The city of Byron remembers it,” asserts Brian Borger. “It’s an iconic corner.”
On Sunday, Borger organized a car show celebrating the “iconic” restaurant that called the corner home – in some shape or another – since 1966. Hundreds of antique automobiles filled the parking lot of the drive-in closed since October 2023.
On Oct. 1, Super Bowl champion Sean Considine – a Byron local – announced his family’s acquisition of the Sam’s Drive-In property. However, the NFL veteran revealed significant damage from summer storms meant an imminent demolition was needed to bring “pride back to the corner.”
“Byron is such a close knit community. Everybody’s so friendly,” says Borger – who moved to the Ogle County city in 2021. “They love their cars.”
Borger and Sam’s Drive-In overlapped in Byron for three years. Yet, a “timeless” connection inspired Sunday’s car show.
“Some of the people here worked here as car hops. Some of the people just brought their dates here,” the organizer remembers.
One of those former employees is Don Hyle – who worked and lived across the street from Dog n’ Suds (the first restaurant on the corner).
“It was a busy, busy place back in the 60s, back when I was a young teenager,” confesses Hyle. The former employee stands in front of his red and silver Plymouth; returning with his classic car for Sam’s grand finale is “surreal” for him.
The car show drives attendees through memory lane. Borger says the setting is “perfect” for the vintage automobiles, “Sam’s is that old 50s, 60s kind of feel. When life was a lot easier, and you cruised in your car, and you brought your date to get a root beer
Besides Hyle, another Dog n’ Suds alum returns to bid farewell: the corner’s original owner.
“I’m happy that he’s still around to see it,” contends Hyle. “Hopefully it will continue.”
Nothing’s confirmed what will replace Sam’s. However, a local business leader claims early proposals show a “Happy Days” themed restaurant.
“Whatever he [Considine] decides to do with the property, it’s going to be a plus for Byron,” admits Borger.
Borger is part of the Hib Reber Memorial Car Show. Organizers share updates for the next car show or cruise night on social media.
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