It was the spring of 1974 when the United States hit it hard with the gas prices. As the cost of gasoline was catapulting to the highest of highs, gas stations were closing one after another in a seemingly hasty fashion while carmakers started experimenting with new ways to develop automobiles that can get better mileage. But for Gary Meszaros and George Warren, it was not about getting a better mileage or sticking to the 55 mph speed limit. It was all about building a home that would serve as a sanctuary for the “gas-station” culture and those high-powered muscle cars – both of which faced the threat of getting thrown into oblivion.
Thus, the Quaker Steak & Lube was born.
A Cook Your Own Steak food enterprise built out of an old, abandoned gas station, Gary and George gave those outmoded muscle cars a home and now boasts of a 1936 Chevrolet, suspended in time on an authentic hydraulic grease rack. It is from these humble beginnings that the Quaker Steak & Lube chain of restaurants began, offering not only safe houses for old cars but also a wide range of signature dishes such as chicken wings served with delightful trademark sauces.
Today, the Quaker Steak & Lube serves nearly 100 million chicken wings in a year, has bottled its signature sauces for distribution on supermarket, grocery stores and food shops, and has been awarded with the “Best Wings in USA” title and several more local, national and global accolades for its sauce and meal recipes.
Through its 45 locations in several states across America, Quaker Steak & Lube still rescues outdated muscle cars, trucks, vintage automobiles, and a wide range of antique and custom-made motorcycles, providing them with good homes up in the restaurants’ walls and ceilings.