Tastee-Freez
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Tastee-Freez is a Newport Beach, California-based franchised chain of fast-food restaurants with stores in 22 of the United States. Although famously mentioned in the John Cougar song Jack and Diane as a favorite destination for "sucking on chili dogs", currently there are fewer than 100 freestanding stores in the United States and Panama. It was founded in 1950 by Leo Moranz and Harry Axene. Moranz invented a soft-serve pump and freezer which enabled the product. Originally stores focused on frozen dairy-based desserts, but newer restaurants have a larger fast-food menu.
In the 1950s, Tastee-Freez had the Tastee-Freez Twins mascots: Tee (female) and Eff (male). The mascots were naked with ice cream (strawberry and chocolate respectively) on their heads.
Since 2003, the company has been owned by Galardi Group Franchise & Leasing, a franchisor based in California, that also owns Wienerschnitzel hot dog restaurants. Wienserschnitzel has begun to incorporate Tastee-Freez frozen custard products in their approximately 350 restaurants.
In addition to John Cougar (now going by his real name "John Mellencamp"), Trisha Yearwood invoked the Tastee-Freez in her 1991 #1 Country hit, "She's in Love With the Boy".
[edit] Competitors
- Dairy Queen
- Dairy Delight
- A&W Restaurants
- Maggie Moo's
- TCBY
[edit] In pop culture
- John Cougar mentions Tastee-Freez in his 1982 hit "Jack and Diane"
- Tastee-Freez is mentioned in Trisha Yearwood's 1991 #1 Country hit "She's in Love with the Boy."
- Rascal Flatts sings "she's got a part time job at the Tastee-Freeze" in their 2005 song "Oklahoma-Texas Line."
- Brooks & Dunn sing of Tastee-Freez in their 2006 song "Hillbilly Deluxe."
- Chicago (band) sing of Tastee-Freez in their song "Take Me Back to Chicago": "'Cause my life was so much simpler then, Street corners and Tastee Freeze".
