|
February 23, 2008
Filed Under (News) by Angela Chih
I know that a great many of you who grew up ’round these parts have fond memories of the countless family trips to Wally’s for its famous Chuck Wagons and shakes that defied gravity. Some of you Johnny Depp fans made up the crowds that gathered outside of it when 21 Jump Street filmed an episode inside. Ah…good times…so for one last stroll down memory lane, make sure to visit the joint within the next week before it’s gone for good! For those of you who haven’t a clue what this is all about, Wally’s Burgers is a iconic remnant of the 60’s . It has changed over the decades, the restaurant’s giant neon sign being only part of a once more elaborate display that also included neon on the exterior of the building as well. The food is very affordable, made to order and there’s a well-known secret sauce that keeps customers coming back for more. Newcomers are sometimes put See you at Wally’s!
21 Responses to “Wally’s Burgers and the End of an Era”Leave a Reply |
|
All good things eventually come to an end, and for one of the last true drive-in fast food restaurants in Vancouver, it’s time. As of March 2008, the one and only Wally’s Burgers will be closing its doors permanently.
off by its appearance, mistaking age for dirtiness, but I think the place is as clean as any other fast food joint out there (you can see the entire kitchen through glass windows). Those that were around in its heyday may think that the burgers are not as good as they used to be but I like ‘em, especially the Deluxe Combo Burger, which is a burger with a wiener as well! Their buns are also better (think Italian style buns). Yummm…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi, I worked at Wally’s in 1970 when I was 16 years old. Is there a reunion site available? What is the exact final date that Wally’s will be open?
Thanks for the info.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Hi Deborah!
As far as I know, there doesn’t seem to be a reunion site. And as to what the exact final date will be is uncertain (there was a language barrier the last time I spoke to the person on the other side of the order window. I plan on popping by this weekend though, so I’ll see if I can find out more details. All I got last time was that their lease expired “in March,” and that the owner had no intention of continuing the business.
March 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
the last thing Vancouver needs is another leaky condo! Bring back Wally’s!!! Boo! Hiss!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Word has it that Bill Larson, he organized the June 1999 event at Wally’s, is putting something together for Sunday March 23rd…..
March 10th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I lived near Wally’s as a kid. “Deluxe wagon, side o’fries, chocolate malted shake”, my mantra, like it was yesterday! Is there an update on last day of service? I’m getting a little “misty” here!
March 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Not sure on the exact closing day but I do know there will be an unofficial last car show there on Sunday the 23rd of March, between 11am and 6pm.
Should be a great turn out of Hot Rods & Customs, a lot of which use to cruise the area back in the day. Food and cash donations will be accepted for the Vancouver Food Bank.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Ok everyone! Here’s the news you’ve been waiting so patiently for:
Wally’s Burgers will be officially closing on Thursday March 27th, 2008.
Anyone out there interested in continuing the business? If so, here’s the deal: The business “Wally’s Burgers” and the building in which it resides are owned by two different parties. The lease for the building itself terminates this month and the landlord has different plans for the property (hence the reason why Wally’s is saying bye-bye). “Wally’s Burgers” as a business however, is up for sale if anyone wants to continue on the tradition. The asking price for the business (separate from the building) is $22,000. For inquiries, email Mr. Kim at wallysburgers@hotmail.com. Let us all know if any of you decide to do this so we know where we can go next for those one-of-a-kind burgers!
March 16th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Can anyone tell me today(Sun.Mar.16th) how to contact Bill Larson regarding the final cruise-in? Rolling Thunder Radio would like to interview him on tomorrow night’s show.
Thanks
March 17th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Hey, This is a travisty. We must keep this restuarant open. This is history. This is OUR mel’s Diner . I say raise funds by having cruises on weekends to fix up the great old place and maybe someone will take interest and take on the business. I’ll be there on the 23rd. If you’re not cruisin you’re loosin.
March 22nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
It sucks,a landmark has to close so some dude can build a tire store or some sort of soon to be getto building.Wally,s was the place to open your hoods,laugh and point or say aah.I have a lot of great memories of weakend get togethers with other racers.We would meet there then go find a place to burn off the rubber, bought the weak before.its an end to an erra.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
My friend Heather has started a facebook group. We are both die hard Wally’s Burgers people. Born and raised in East Van. Hung around Norquay Park. We are still kind of reeling. If they put a Starbuck’s there I will personally firebomb it. Just kidding. Want to join the group? theresab269@hotmail.com
March 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hey all! Hope you enjoyed the cruise-in on Sunday. If you’d like to have a look at the pictures we took, go to: http://www.dabbler.ca/news/final-cruise-in-at-wallys-burgers-20080326/
March 29th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I just got out of hospital after many months……my most favourite fast food EVER is “chuckwagon deluxe:……life will not be the same
March 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I worked there too, in the early 80’s, from age 14-17 and I have alot of memories. Do you remember the orange T-shirts?
Anne
March 31st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Me and my family got one of the last burgers served. It was great. It was so sad to see the “CLOSED: We hope to see you again at WALLY’S BURGERS“!!
April 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
PLEASE EVERYONE LETS CHIP IN AND BUY WALLYS LETS GET LIKE 100 PEOPLE TO CHIP IN AND LETS KEEP THE LEGACY ALIVE
April 4th, 2009 at 1:39 am
I LIVED ON KILLARNEY STREET CLOSE TO WALLEYS FOR DECADES AS A KID ME AND MY FRIENDS WOULD ONCE IN A WHILE CLEAN UP WALLEYS PARKING LOT AND RECIEVE A FREE CHEESE BURGER.AS A TEEN I WOULD PURCHASE A CHUCKWAGON FRIES AND A VANILLA SHAKE ON A REGULAR BASIS.A FRIEND OF MINE BACK IN NORQUAY SCHOOL DAYS WAS THE ONE WHO HAD THE VEGETARIAN BURGER PUT ON THE MENU.I CAN STILL REMEMBER THAT GREAT SMELL OF WALLEYS WHEN WALKING ON KINGSWAY IN THE SUMMER TIME.I’M SURE GOING TO MISS THE PLACE.***** A FIVE STAR DRIVE INN.
February 11th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
According to a local Brnaby paper, Wallys is reopening in February 2010.
Somebody has bought the name and resipes and is opening in the Killarney plaza. Thats at the corner of 49th and Clarendon. I do hope thats true.I was brought up in East Van. and always enjoyed their food.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I’ve been searching for a Canadian film that was filmed at Wallys on May 4 2006 called VICE and cannot come up with anything I would dearly love to see it as my kids went to Wally’s when they went to school please help THANKS
February 21st, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I have been searching for a canadian film shot at Wally’s May 2006 titled VICE My kids went to Wallys all the time and i would love to see it HELP thanks
February 25th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Wally’s is back, under new ownership! In addition to the seasonal location at Cates Park, they are now located next to Killarney Market!