August 2024| Vol. 34 Iss. 8
FREE
Food Edition
OWNERS OF WOODY’S DRIVE-IN PASS THE RESTAURANT TO A NEW GENERATION By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
P
ieter Wouden won’t miss the long hours, the hot days behind the grill or the daily stream of small disasters he dealt with as the owner of Woody’s Drive-In in Murray (6172 S. 1300 East). What Wouden will miss are the relationships he created with the community and his customers, and the people who stop by Woody’s just to say hello. After 35 years, Wouden and his wife, Christine, are hanging up their aprons and handing the keys of Woody’s to new management. The 1950s-themed restaurant is a staple in the city. With its classic burgers, above-the-rim shakes, zucchini fries, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles and French fries handmade fresh every day, it takes a process (and hundreds of pounds of potatoes) to create the food items on Woody’s menu. “It takes a lot of work,” Wouden said. “If everything was frozen and simple, then maybe I could just work there part time. The great thing is, over the last five years or so, our business really has picked up a lot.” Wouden and Christine met while they both worked as managers for Arctic Circle. After they married, they wanted to merge family time and work time. They opened Woody’s, creating a place where everyone could work together. It was never about getting rich or franchising the Woody’s business model. It was about raising a family and building something they could be proud of. Wouden’s official retirement started July 1 and he is interested to see what a summer can feel like when he’s not A family gathering and a public going away party celebrated 35 years of Woody’s Drive-In. The owners, Pieter and Christine Wouden, have working behind the grill all day. Traveling is at the top of his turned ownership over to Joe Hansen. (Photo courtesy of the Wouden family) Continued page 19
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When kitchens go wild