If you overlook the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, Blazing Saddles, and a few other not so pleasant occurances around the world, 1974 was a great year! For starters, I was born, myChris was born, as well as Emily, Michelle, and a whole lot of other great people I know and love! Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors were champions at Wimbledon, The Sting won the Academy Award, Killing Me Softly With His Song won the Grammy, and in a small town in Pennsylvania, an abandoned gas station was converted into a restaurant which would become home of the Best Wings, USA!
Quaker Steak and Lube is the kind of place that defines the American spirit. The country was experiencing a gas crisis and older cars were becoming obsolete as more fuel efficient cars were developed. So two men with a vision preserved a slice of American life in the form of a restaurant. A restaurant which has thrived for 33 years, beckoning the college students in surrounding towns to make road trips for Tuesday's All You Can Eat Wings, to dare to attempt the Atomic Wings (after signing the necessary release of liabilty form of course), or just to hang out on the weekend.
As those students have moved on to other places of the country, they've been fortunate to find that The Lube has followed them so that there are now 20 locations in 7 states, all with the same theme of muscle cars and motorcycles suspended from the ceiling. It's a good thing, because once you've tasted Quaker Steak's wings, none other will satisfy!
We've had a chance to visit a few of the newer locations, and while they all serve the same PERFECT barbeque sauce, the original Lube is still the best. So of course, when we headed back to our college town for a wedding this past weekend, we had to stop at The Lube in Sharon, PA to share our favorite wing place with our kids.
Needless to say, it was a very fun time. We're raising a great bunch of BBQ wing loving kids! Not very "crunchy," I know! ;)
9 comments:
That picture is hilarious!!!
I went to school at TX A&M in College Station... and fell in love with Freebirds! World Burrito. They have now grown and spread to other cities but the original dumpy dive is still the BEST-- even if my first impression was "People eat in there?! NO WAY! It looks dirty and yucky and old and dirty." But they have the best burritos EVER.
Now I'm hungry. And it's all your fault, Angel. :-p
Only you could look adorable chawing down on a chicken wing.
Looks like a whole lotta fun.
you mean you're all younger than me????
Who knew?!?! You can bet if I ever happen upon one, I'll be trying the wings. :)
You are too cute. And too young.
Oh, wow! That looks SOOO fun and yummy! Yes, very American!! I love it! And you and one daughter wore WHITE to eat wings! Wow, brave girls you two are!
I recently discovered that we have a Lube in Charlotte. I've resisted the urge to ask Steve if we can drive 2.5 hours just to get wings, because I know what the answer will be! But, I am going home in 2 weeks, and I have already decided that mom & dad & I are going there for lunch someday. We may not make it to the one in Sharon, but there are a couple others nearby. Or, if that doesn't work out, I may get some in the Pittsburgh airport while I'm waiting for my flight. But, regardless, I will get some wings!!
Jenny
What fun to share memories with your kids! Although I have to admit the restaurant doesn't have the most appealing name, but I'll take your word for it that they have great food!
I didn't know that the Sharon restaurant was the original. Mmmm...
Good times, good times.
How pleasant. A wing joint w/out women's anatomy as it's main selling point...Who thought of that?
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