Come on out, grab a burger or a Frosty (Hey, maybe both) and have some fun with your Sarasota / Bradenton Fast Food Friends!
Consumed by his love of hamburgers, Dave visited every hamburger stand he could find. When a friend mentioned that it was hard to get a good lunch in downtown Columbus, Dave saw an opportunity. On November 15, 1969, Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. His boyhood dream was coming true.
After trying all five of his children's names for the restaurant, Dave decided on his daughter Melinda's nickname - Wendy. This nickname stemmed from the fact that her siblings couldn’t pronounce her name, so they started calling her Wenda, which then turned into Wendy. He felt that the logo of a smiling, whole-some little girl with the name “Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers” would be the place where you went for a hamburger the way you used to get them, with fresh beef. The first menu included hot 'n juicy hamburgers, rich 'n meaty chili, French fries, soft drinks and a Frosty Dairy Dessert. From the beginning, Dave wanted Wendy’s to be a place to get great food, made fresh and served by friendly people; a place that didn't cut corners on quality. Wendy's became known for square ground beef hamburgers that hang over the bun, made with the customer's choice of toppings.
