This was originally the Donalsonville Tastee Freez.
Gayle Sheffield Floyd writes: Just a few facts about THE Tastee Freez by the daughter of the builder and owner, for many years. Trivia if you will…The Tastee Freez was built in the late 50’s when times were a little slower. Rupert Sheffield built and named D’ville’s “varsity”…the parking lot was a dusty place for all the kids to pull up and have a tray hooked to the window. Great burgers etc! My aunt, Mercedes was a friend to all of us kids, she would even fill the old juke box and blare out of the outside speakers for us on the ball field across the street! The coaches didn’t care to hear Lil Richard right on to The Beatles and Conway Twitty . It was great after my teen years as well. The carhop was my cousin who would name the parts of the atom for a tip!
When I photographed this, it was known as Fain’s. I believe it’s most recently been Hew’s. Either way, it’s Tastee.
As of 2020, I’m not sure if the building is still standing.
Not that it really matters, but just to set the record straight and give Daddy his due, Rupert did start building the Tastee- Freez, but the TF corporate had requirements that Rupert either wouldn’t or couldn’t comply with. Daddy borrowed the money from a bank in Bainbridge to purchase the property, have the TF built, and operating expenses. He had to take out a second loan when Tastee- Freeze refused to let him use their name if it wasn’t built to their specifications. The TF was probably Daddy’s biggest and greatest business accomplishmeent, but more importantly , he left so many of us with such good memories of a special place. Just reading all these wonderful memories you guys have posted makes me happy and proud of my dad. R.I.P Daddy.Suellen Belcher
Suellen Sheffield Belcher
Just a few facts about THE Tastee Freeze by the daughter of the builder and owner, for many years. Trivia if you will… The Tastee Freeze was built in the late 50’s when times were a little slower.
Rupert Sheffield built and named D’ville’s “varsity”…the parking lot was a dusty place for all the kids to pull up and have a tray hooked to the window. Great burgers etc! My aunt, Mercedes was a friend to all of us kids, she would even fill the old juke box and blare out of the outside speakers for us on the ball field across the street. The coaches didn’t care to hear Lil Richard right on to The Beatles and Conway Twitty . it was great after my teen years as well.
The carhop was my cousin who would name the parts of the atom for a tip!
I just had to go back to a wonderful time.I still have an original Tastee Freeze tray, it’s still in great condition to remind us that things made in the USA still survive.
Thank you for your work,
Gayle S. Floyd
By the way, the Methodist Church in neighboring Iron City would be worth exploring if you are back in this area.
Thanks for sharing this little bit of history, Gayle. I bet it really was a happening place back in the day!
It’s one of the peculiarities of the Deep South. The best places to eat are usually only open for breakfast and lunch and never, ever on Sunday.
Good shot ,do you try these restaurants out ,Brian ??
I do from time to time, Phil, but many of them keep odd hours and so when I’m passing through they aren’t open. Still, some of my best meals have been in these sorts of establishments during my photo trips…