User:Jchelm/sandbox

The Parkette Drive-In is a historic 50's style restaurant, located on E. New Circle Road in Lexington Kentucky. The Parkette serves classic Americana foods such hot dogs, fried chicken, hamburgers, and desserts that would have typically been seen at a drive-in restaurant during the 1950's.

History
The Parkette Drive in was founded on November 11th, 1951 by a man named Joe Smiley on a dirt road outside the city skirts of Lexington, KY. After moving to Lexington from West Virginia, Mr. Smiley found a golden opportunity to open the Drive in. On the Parkette's opening night, there where rainstorms, so Joe hired tow trucks to aid anybody who got stuck in the mud. Smiley's philosophy was that "good food at a good price would bring folks in". Sure enough his philosophy worked and the Parkette began to grow. In 1957 the famous Parkette sign, which cost about $100,000 in today's money was constructed and still remains there today. In that same year a new Parkette was opened on Georgetown Rd. However, that location was sold later in 1966. In 2003 the Parkette was bought by Jeff and Randy Kaplan after the Drive in had an abrupt closing. The Kaplan Brothers bought the restaurant in hopes to keep the history and heritage alive. On August 10th, 2013 the Parkette opened a 90 seat expansion that resembles a old style garage.

Additional Facts

 * Parkette's Famous Fried Chicken was once known as "Kentucky Fried Chicken".
 * In it's First 40 years, an estimated 19.2 million "Poor Boys" had been sold at the Parkette.
 * On September 20th, 2010 the Parkette appeared on the Food Network's show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri
 * Co-Owner Randy Kaplan entered in Parkette's Famous Kentucky Hot Brown Burger on the Rachel Ray Show during Iron Chef Bobby Flay's Nationwide Burger Challenge. Randy was one of three finalists.
 * The Parkette host several events such as Police and Fire Appreciation day and a Cruise (automotive).
 * Parkette won the Kentucky Living: "Best In Kentucky", Best Non-Franchise Dive/Diner/Drive-In for 2016.