Mearl's Drive-In to Become Habit Burger Grill

same here.....I still like TK Burger or Farmer Boys

 

I hope to feed my face there next year !!! Love a good ol' fashioned greasy burger once in awhile.
Remember "Oscars" in San Diego ????? Yummy.

 

heres a few updated shots a few weeks apart, its really coming along !

 

from Adriene Biondo

 

Boy was I glad that your headline wasn't a typo. I though it was being changed to HOBBIT Drive-in, still can't get my head around the name HABIT?
I could just see the parking lot filled with Volvos and Saabs and Elements with "save the whales" and " hug a Tree today" bumper stickers. And the possible menu...ugggghhh.

 

Thanks for posting, Doug. I took these last Sun., Aug. 21st. Called The Habit and was told they're hoping to open right after Labor Day...Grand Opening Cruisetime!

 

Kind of a win-win situation IMO.. It's too bad the restraunt couldn't remain more period, but at least it didn't get demolished for another trendy establishment... Besides, I love Habit, they're popping up everywhere and me and my gut are pretty dam happy about that... Love their sourdough bread

 

Thanx Hanginlow58, Adriene and of course Mazooma for posting updated pix as well as a very rare one (Tad's). Had a friend swing by and take some pix of when they just started to pressure wash the building for it new coat of stucco.
Perhaps Adriene will get them posted as well????

Thanx to all that felt that this project should survive as well. This was one of our
"wish that I lived near there so we can be more effective" favorite drive-ins.

Yes Adriene, Lets round The Broilers members up and cruise up The Old HWY 99 and take the Visalia cut off to welcome The TAD'S,Mearle's,Habit back! Man it must be time to pull the 55 Bird out for a cruise! Can't wait for the GRAND OPENNING!

 

from Adriene...........

 

So cool that they saved the building. Although it re-opened, Mearle's never really got going again after the fire in 2004( I think ?). My old pal Jerry Wallace lives across the fence in the background, and he told me he had been going there since 1938. Given the nature of businesses in CA, I'm amazed it lasted as long as it did...

 

Thanks for posting these for me, Doug. My friend Connie Scott took them this past week when she was in Visalia. They've been giving away free charburgers, fries and milkshakes during their employee training, and hosting charity fundraisers for the community. A gorgeous model of Mearle's is on display inside. What a beautiful save for this community. September 7th is the official Grand Opening Day--can't wait to see the new place at night with the neon all lit up again!!

 

Wow! That's great to see. I was born in Visalia and spent my early years there. My Father taught across the street at College of the Sequoias and he took my Brother and I to Mearle's from time to time. So glad to see that it's been brought back to life by The Habit. Someday I'll have to cruise back up there in one of my old cars, what a trip that would be.

 

officially opened today, grabbed a few pics. with my phone about 8 o'clock and it was packed with cars blocking traffic, sure looked great to see the neon lights again

 

forgot to add a link from the local paper about mearle getting the first burger

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011109050324

 

Thanx to all that worked on this great save! Our own Ace Reporter Adriene made the scene as well, she took some fantastic dusk shots and states that Mearles Lives on! just like Harvey's does as Bob Big Boy Broiler!

Hats off to the Habit Mgmnt which did such a great job incorporating many cool elements into this great drive in, even tho it's now a drive thru.
Congrats!

 

We need a place like this in Dearborn....

 

I Hate to be the 1 neg. post but I used to live 2 blocks from here through the 50's 60's & 70's My dad had coffee there most mornings & ex Marine that worked there used to fix me extra thick choc shakes when I was a kid .... when we were broke but could scrape up $1.10 for a chili size excellent & Huge ..... Close Friends with Merle & long time staff , parked there & Cruised Mooney in the 60's &70's in the same car you see in my pix A 1000 Memories ......it broke my Heart to see it go derelict ..... I Wrote the Paper & said the Town should raise the money & save it as a Historical Monument ..... Said I Would come from Wash. & Do All the counters & tables for free ,, Formica had this really cool 50's Laminate ,, Never received any reply ,, to me it seems they've ruined it ..... no place for Cool Cruiser Car's the inside has totally lost that cool horseshoe design . I'm not against the company .... but if you wanna build a new burger place go up the street & build what ever you want .... the only thing I Like is the building is saved ... maybe a fire or another Co. would return it to it's former glory ..... but I Doubt it .... Sad .... I'll Miss it .....

 

Just be glad the building was saved and there's still grilled patties on buns being served. Look at the glass as being half full and not half empty.

Moody Blues – You Can Never Go Home Lyrics
I don't know what I'm searching for,
I never have opened the door.
Tomorrow may find me at last,
Turning my back on the past.
But time will tell of stars that fell,
A million years ago.
Memories can never take you back,
Home, sweet, home.
You can never go home any more.
All my life I never really knew me till today.
Now I know I'm just another step along the way.
I lie awake for hours,
I'm just waiting for the sun,
When the journey we are making has begun.
Don't deny the feeling,
That is stealing through your heart,
Every happy ending needs to have a start.
All my life I never really knew me till today.
Now I know I'm just another step along the way.
Weep no more for treasures,
You've been searching for in vain,
'cause the truth is gently falling with the rain.
High above the forests,
Lie the pastures of the sun,
Where the two that learned the secret now are one.
I don't know what I'm searching for,
I never have opened the door.
Tomorrow might find me at last,
Turning my back on the past.
But time will tell of stars that fell,
A million years ago.
Memories can never take you back,
Home, sweet, home.
You can never go home any more.

 

Got a Habit in Modesto, I really like the Portabella Mushroom Burger.
Not much of a Hotrod hang though out mostly Yuppie's and New Millennial's/College Students type of hang out.
Maybe Visalia's will be a go to Hotrod spot.

 

Mearle’s to The Habit From Drive-In to Drive Thru. I can’t believe that it’s nearly 10 yrs since it’s re-inception. This Cool Drive-In has a very Colorful History.

 

The Habit Burger has the best vanilla shakes on the planet earth. With the first gulp you will be mumbling "OOOOHHHHHH THAT'S GOOD!!!!"

 

Really cool, Art Deco style, building. We "used" to have a "giant cowboy hat and boots" restaurant in South Seattle, and a couple of other landmark buildings; all gone now. Nice they saved this one. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.