Two+Ice+Cream+Parlors

Original Author: Kara Orsborn, A&S 195 SP12
 * Sandy ****’s to Hardee’s and ****Lindgren Is The Founder Of Two Ice Cream **
 * Parlors **

Revision Author:


 * Sandy ****’s to Hardee’s **

Sandy’s owned by Mr. Ted Vlahos was the first franchise of fast food restaurants in Moline Illinois. Trish Mehaffey states “Folks in Moline’s 55th Street neighborhood used to get a traditional fast food meal, burger and fries, from Sandy’s Restaurant” (Mehaffey C7). This was the beginning of a new era for The Quad Cities in the 1950’s. Sandy’s started out as a small franchise and today has turned into an billion dollar business located throughout the United States. Sandy’s was known for its fast service and likeable menu around the neighborhood. Not only was Sandy’s successful as a fast food restaurant, but it was a supporter of the major golf tournament in The Quad Cities for many years. Mr. Vlahos was one of the first Sandy’s franchisers owners who saw the benefits of merging with Hardee’s which became one big franchise. Even though at that time, Mr. Vlahos did not foresee how huge Hardee’s would grow into.

The owner of the local Sandy’s Gus “Brick” Lundberg of Kewanee encouraged the community and other owners of Sandy’s to support the conversion and the change in name of the fast food restaurant. The Daily Dispatch quotes “The conversion of Sandy’s, which started in 1956, required new signs and designs of the buildings, and not all of Sandy’s people welcomed the change, Mr. Vlahos said” (Mehaffey C7). The name and the appearance of the restaurant changed, but the menu remained the same due to its long standing success with local customers. What was once called Sandy’s in the 1950’s, is now known as Hardee’s. During the years of conversion, there were many economic hardships on the Hardee’s local franchises which meant “the area fell on “bad times” with a meat shortage and serious health problems arose for Mr. Lundberg and Mr. Vlahos” (Mehaffey C7). Due to the economic hardships on the local Hardee’s franchises, the golf tournament was canceled after the year of 1975 for several years. Both Mr. Lundberg and Mr. Vlahos had to borrow massive amounts of money to finish paying off the debts from the 1975 golf tournament.

Today there are many franchises of Hardee’s located throughout The Quad Cities area, much more than there were of Sandy’s in the 1940’s and 1950’s. However, the menu has expanded over the years to meet its customer’s needs, so it’s not just burgers and fries anymore, but there is much more variety such as “Hot Ham N’ Cheese, Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Filet Sandwich, Salads…” (Mehaffey C7). In June of 1988, Hardee’s switched their frying oil to a hundred percent vegetable oil. Currently there are over forty stores open in The Quad Cities. Also, Hardee’s can be found in several foreign countries. What was once the first Sandy’s franchise in Moline Illinois has now grown into a billion dollar enterprise. Obviously, it was the quick service and delicious food that paved the way for Sandy’s to become one of the most successful fast food chains in the United States. An interesting side note, Sandy’s first took root in Moline Illinois.

There are two local ice cream stores in Moline Illinois that are known for their famous flavors and delicious tasting ice cream. The first company established was Whitey’s ice cream in 1933. Chester “Whitey” Lindgren was the founder of Whitey’s. John Marx quotes in the Dispatch-Argus that “Whitey Lindgren eventually sold Whitey’s and then started the first Country Style (east of Hiland Park Bowl on 23rd Avenue” (Marx 1). Whitey’s brother Wayne decided to follow in his foot steps and join him in the ice cream business. The two brothers worked together developing a high quality soft serve ice cream for their new business Country Style. For more then fifty years the two ice cream stores have remained adjacent to each other, even though the Lindgren family does not own Whitey’s anymore. Rather, the Tunberg family took over the business when Whitey sold it to them in the year of 1953. Even though Whitey sold the business, he remained close to it. “He was among the first customers at the new Whitey’s 16th street, that Mr. Bob Tunberg opened” (The Daily Dispatch). The Tunberg family chose to keep the name Whitey’s when they took over ownership from Chester “Whitey” Lindgren. Many people do not know that the founder of both Country Style and Whitey’s came from Chester “Whitey” Lindgren and yet neither the Lindgren’s nor Tunberg’s boasted about being better than one another. It is ironic that you can go to one corner on 23rd avenue and find two different types of ice cream as one mom stated “We get out of the car and two of my kids head for Whitey’s and two head for Country Style” (Marx 1).
 * Lindgren Is The Founder Of Two Ice Cream Parlors **

In fact, the first Country Style location was opened on 23rd avenue and 43rd street. However when Whitey and Wayne joined forces, Country Style moved its location to where it still stands today on 23rd avenue and 16th street. Customers walk up to the two outside windows of Country Style and place their order through there. It is a very simple and small establishment, except for the sign that stands out in big letters high above the establishment. People keep going back to Country Style for the old fashion atmosphere and the ice cream that tastes almost like it is homemade. Once Whitey gave up his half of Country Style, his brother Wayne took over. Wayne along with his wife ran Country Style for over 38 years. He was committed to his work by making high quality ice cream and excellent service just as his brother Whitey did. Wayne’s motivation and commitment to high quality ice cream made Country Style what it is to this day. In Whitey’s obituary, it stated “He was known as an advocate of quality and service – aspects of the business the Tunberg family have strived to maintain, said Robert Tunberg” (Daily Dispatch). Whitey’s brother Wayne maintained those same standards after he bought out his brother’s share of Country Style.

Whitey and Wayne worked together by developing the famous ice cream mix which makes Country Style so unique. Country Style ice cream “is a special liquid mixture prepared in a large container and piped through a freezing component designed by Whitey Lindgren” (Marx 2). Many people enjoy the creamy flavor of Country Style’s ice cream. As one person stated “I know it’s not ice milk, but that creamy flavor draws me to Country Style (Marx 2). Whitey developed hard serve ice cream for Whitey’s and then he and his brother developed the mixture to make Country Style soft serve ice cream. Both ice cream parlors meet the needs of all ice cream lovers on the same corner in Moline Illinois.

Ownership of Country Style continues to remain in the Lindgren family. After Wayne and his wife sold the business of Country Style to his nephew, he retired in 1985 and ten years later died February 3rd, 1995 at his home. “Mr. Kent Kindelsperger is the great nephew of Chester “Whitey” Lindgren, owner of Country Style in Moline, East Moline and Galena” (Marx 1). Mr. Kindelsperger has not changed the recipe at all, but has expanded its stores in the Quad Cities. Through the years the menu of Country Style has expanded into more elaborate milkshakes and malts, but continues to keep what Whitey and Wayne first had on their menu. Today Country Style has expanded to two more locations, which include East Moline and Galena.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Even though Whitey’s and Country Style are located right next to each other on the corner of 23rd avenue and 16th street, there is no competition between the two ice cream parlors. Rather, it boils down to what customers prefer if they want soft serve ice cream from Country Style or hard serve ice cream from Whitey’s. Both ice cream parlors have the highest standards in their products and service. In fact, Whitey hired 16 year old Bob Tunberg to work for him at Whitey’s. “Mr. Tunberg worked for Mr. Lindgren through high school and then on and off until 1953” (Marx, 2). It was in 1953 that Whitey offered Mr. Tunberg the opportunity to buy Whitey’s from him and Mr. Tunberg took his offer. Even though Country Style and Whitey’s are now separately owned family businesses, there appears to be a respect towards one another due to the history of Whitey, Wayne and Bob Tunberg. This respect has continued to this day between the owners of Country Style and Whitey’s. The Dispatch Argus quotes “The relationship has always been friendly, it’s a unique situation, both have their own niches and I am sure there are customers who prefer one or the other and those who like both” (Marx 1).

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The successes the two ice cream parlors have to this day can be contributed to the founder Chester “Whitey” Lindberg. His values and work standards were extremely high, which helped him be successful with both companies. His dedication to the quality of his ice cream kept customers coming back for more either from Country Style or Whitey’s. Wayne held the same standard as his brother Whitey did, which kept the quality of Country Style running. The standards that Whitey and Wayne set for their ice cream and service will always be remembered since those expectations are still the same today with the current owner Mr. Kent Kindelsperger.

Marx, John. “Whitey’s vs. Country Style: Q-C split on top bananas.” __Quad-Cities Online Dispatch Argus__ 10 July 1999. Mehaffey, Trish. “Tourney sponsor’s come a long way from “Swing down to Sandy’s.” __The Daily Dispatch__ 1 September 1990: C7. Obituary. “Wayne Lindgren.” __The Daily Dispatch__. Obituary. “Whitey’s founder dies.” __The Daily Dispatch__.
 * __Works Cited__**

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