Streamliner Family Restaurant celebrates 85 years in business

Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 4:40 PM

By Shelby Lopez

A cool treat during brutal heat, National Ice Cream Soda Day is celebrated every year on June 20.

The day was made to inspire Americans to enjoy a classic chilled beverage consisting of ice cream in a soft drink, or soda water and syrup.

While the heyday of old-fashioned soda shops waned in the 1960s, The Streamliner Family Restaurant, 201 E. Ninth St., in Rochester, has faithfully kept the tradition, serving sweet treats that are included on their dessert menu like the old-fashioned ice cream soda, floats, fresh fountain soft drinks and food. The Streamliner has a retro feel that dates back 85 years in the community.

Opening on Memorial Day in 1939 across the street from its current location, where Flagstar Bank now stands, their first menu offered hamburgers, ham, pork and beef barbecue, ham salad, cheese and homemade chili. At the time, the streamliner locomotive was the fastest type of transportation, therefore the name was chosen to represent fast service to compliment their locally famous menu.

Hamburgers sold for 10 cents each, or you could have a deluxe for 25 cents. Malts and shakes were 15 cents each, or 2 for 25 cents. Later, they began making their own 10-cent french fries.

While prices have changed thanks to inflation, and their menu has expanded drastically, Lisa Calhoun said the loyal customers frequenting their Rochester establishment over the years have been what has kept their business afloat.

Calhoun's father, Larry Calhoun, bought the business in the 1960's at the age of 21.

Calhoun said she and her sister, Debbie, began helping her parents at the restaurant around the age of 10, eventually receiving a paycheck by the time she was 13.

Over time, Calhoun eventually traded aprons with her father, becoming owner and keeping the Streamliner legacy at full-speed with business.