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Wetson's

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Wetson's Logo
Wetson's Logo

Wetson's was a fast food hamburger chain that started in 1959, and lasted until 1975.

Wetson's was founded in 1959 by Harold Norbitz and Carl Wetanson.

The pair visited a McDonald's on a trip to Chicago's suburbs in the mid-50's, a time when there were no McDonald's in the metropolitan New York area. They were impressed with the concept: cheap food and fast service, and according to Norbitz, they "basically duplicated it".

The chain was known for its 15-cent burgers, its signature burger was the Big W, and 10-cent fries, and had the slogans "LOOK FOR THE ORANGE CIRCLES" and "BUY THEM BY THE BAGFULL". Those slogans were very similar to McDonald's "LOOK FOR THE GOLDEN ARCHES" and White Castle's "BUY 'EM BY THE SACK". Wetson's also had two clown mascots, Wetty (female) and Sonny (male), in the style of McDonald's Ronald McDonald.

At its peak, Wetson's had approximately 70 locations in the the greater New York metropolitan area.

By 1975, McDonald's and Burger King were battling for dominance in the New York market and Wetson's could no longer compete effectively. The chain was purchased by Nathan's Famous and converted to small Nathan's restaurants.

Carl Wetanson's older son Herb was the man who did the hard work and helped the chain expand and become a success.

Wetanson's son, Errol, was for a time married to actress/model Margaux Hemingway.

Locations:

  • Brooklyn, NY Bay Parkway and Shore Parkway (now Wendy's)
  • Brooklyn, NY Flatbush Avenue And Avenue U (Demolished - Now A Bank)
  • Brooklyn, NY Flatbush Ave and Empire Blvd (now Wendy's)
  • Stamford, CT Hope Street (Now Donut Delight)
  • Norwalk, CT Connecticut Ave. (Demolished)
  • Bronx, NY (Demolished)
  • Staten Island, NY Forest Avenue (Converted into an Italian deli)
  • Elmhurst, NY Queens Boulevard (Route 25) and Woodhaven Boulevard (demolished)
  • Valley Stream, NY Sunrise Highway at Rockaway Ave. (demolished)
  • Flushing, NY Northern Boulevard (Route 25A) and 195th Street(demolished)now a strip mall
  • Rego Park, NY Woodhaven Boulevard and 63rd Drive (now Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins)
  • New Hyde Park, NY corner of New Hyde Park Road and Union Tpke (Demolished) area now a Gulf gas station
  • Hicksville, NY Old Country Road (Demolished) area now Dunkin Donuts with a drive-thru
  • West Islip, NY Sunrise Highway (Route 27) westbound service road (Now a car dealership)
  • Lake Grove, NY Middle Country Road (Route 25) and Hawkins Avenue (now Two Guys Appliance)
  • Little Neck, NY Northern Boulevard (Demolished) now a Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins store
  • Roslyn, NY Northern Boulevard (now East Hills Chevrolet within the old structure)
  • Freeport, NY Sunrise Highway at Henry Street
  • Paramus, NJ Route 17 (converted into a branch of the Stage Delicatessen)
  • Pine Brook, NJ Route 46 & Hook Mountain Road

References

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