By Jeff Friedman
Let’s all sing now “These happy days are yours and mine… happy days.” Happy Days was an American television sitcom that aired from January 15, 1974 to September 24, 1984 on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series followed the adventure of teenager Richie Cunningham and his friends, Ralph Malph, Potsie, and Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli. It presented an idealized vision of life in the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. Much of the action took place at the local teen hang-out, Arnold’s Drive-In (later Al’s Drive-in).
The Cunninghams had nothing on Don Roth and his iconic Don’s Drive-In restaurant, located at the corner of South Orange Avenue and White Oak Ridge Road in Livingston.
Alas, Don’s is no longer. The Livingston Planning Board has approved the subdivision of the property that once housed everyone’s favorite burger joint. One lot will be home to a Jewish synagogue and community center; the other lot will be for the construction of 12 low- and moderate-income apartments.
But the Don’s legacy lives on in the memories of many.
Opening as a drive-in hot dog and hamburger stand in 1955, Don’s soon had a large parking lot, complete with car-hop service. Local high school students would cruise the lot to enjoy those special, endearing feelings that were part and parcel of the mid ’50s to ’60s, and, of course, to scarf a couple of Don’s widely-known burgers (with fries, of course).
Later, Don’s eliminated its car-hop service, built a larger restaurant with a famous bakery, and continued to be revered for years to come. Mr. Roth retired, finally, in the early 1990s.
He sold his culinary kingdom, but Don’s was never the same, and closed some years later. The ingredients were the same, except for one: Don. And apparently, it made all the difference in the world.
How do I know that Don’s is truly revered, even now, in 2018? Because I have lived in Livingston for 60 years, so I’ll take that liberty. But, there’s more tangible proof. As many of us know, a Facebook page exists for just about everything. And, yes, there’s a page entitled, “You Know You’re From Livingston When You Remember… Don’s Drive-In.” Following, some former – and possibly a few current – Livingston residents share their fond memories of Don’s.
Joseph James Murph loved the “Blu-cheese burgers, and pong in the front room.” Heidi Berger calls it “The best place ever!” and says, “I cherish my days as ...
