Hunts Drive-in
1932 - 2005
WELCOME TO HUNTS
A Hunts History - In 1932, Bert and Ethel Hunt opened a refreshment stand at Western and Moss Ave. This early drive-in offered Curb Service during the summer months. The Hunts moved in 1934 to a larger site on Farmington Road, with parking for over 150 cars. It was the largest drive-in in the Midwest. Hunts has always been a family business. Bert Hunt - complete with cigar - visiting his guests at their cars - directing the curbies and hurrying about the lot, was the genial host, until his death in 1954. In the kitchen, Mrs. Hunt created the famous Pork Tender and developed other Hunts specialties. During these early years, she prepared the food and supervised the kitchen-stressing absolute cleanliness and painstaking preparation. These standards continued throughout Hunt’s business career.
Later, after returning from military service in 1945, Gordon Hunt rejoined his parents in the business.
Then in 1959, Mrs. Hunt and Gordon built a modern year-round restaurant facility with a lower level commissary, a large kitchen, and a 105 seat dining room.
The attractive Chandelier Room, added in 1970, increased the seating capacity to over 300.
“I remember Hunts restaurant on Farmington Rd. The absolute best pork tenderloin sandwiches. Growing up in the 60’s my mom would take me there on Friday nights. I always got a tenderloin sandwich with tarter sauce and onions (sounds weird but it was great), plus their fantastic onion rings. When I was stationed around the world in the military, I would always crave a Hunts tenderloin. Went back just before they closed– IT WAS the same!! Great loss when they closed.” - Roy
Originally located on Western Avenue in the early 20th century, the popular dining spot (and popular drive-in for many years) moved to West Farmington Road way back in the 1930s. In the 1950s, Hunt's was the hub of Peoria's car scene with cars full of teens cruising up and down the road and around the parking lot. The Hunt family sold the restaurant in the 1990s, but the restaurant hung on into the 21st century, finally closing around 2005.
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