Baker’s Drive-Thru® will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2012.  Established in 1952, Mr. Neal T. Baker’s local empire has grown to 36 restaurants, Victorville to the North, Corona to the South, Beaumont to the East and Upland to the West – to all points in-between!  In that time, Baker’s has earned the title of “Best Fast Food” in San Bernardino County as voted upon by readers of the San Bernardino Sun.

 

Neal T. Baker’s humble beginnings in the building trade began in 1946; his family started an adobe brickyard building selling heavy earthen bricks to the construction industries.   In time Mr. Baker established himself as an accomplished commercial and residential builder.  Years later he became co-founder of the Business Bank of San Bernardino.

In 1952, in his hometown of San Bernardino, Mr. Baker opened his first modest hamburger stand in San Bernardino on Highland Ave.  Mr. Baker’s love of the business grew, and in 1953 he opened a second Baker’s location in Rialto, which still stands today. 

 

By 1955 Mr. Baker had become a standout in the industry as an innovator in creating America’s First Twin Kitchen® operation – an offering of both American and Mexican entrees – a concept that quickly caught on with the evolving Inland Empire customers.  Guests can opt for the American Kitchen and order a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake, or get a taco, burrito and bean cup from the Mexican Kitchen.  Both kitchens also serve breakfast meals, including hash browns, egg sandwiches, egg burritos and soft egg tacos.   In 1995 Mr. Baker added a third “kitchen” to the winning Baker’s mix. Acknowledging the special Character of the Loma Linda community with the predominance of Seventh Day Adventists who are largely vegetarian, he introduced an array of non-meat selections including the Boca Burger – calling it the Loma Linda Kitchen menu.  The special menu is now available at sixteen Baker’s locations and is called simply, The Vegetarian Kitchen

 

The Baker’s Drive-Thru® founder whipped up a real treat in 1987 when he introduced Hand-Dipped Real Ice Cream Milkshakes that are available today in the traditional flavors, as well as additions of Oreo, Butterfinger, and Snickers specialty Milkshakes.

 

The concept of “Great Food, Close to Home®” also includes the offering of all hot menu items such as a Old Fashioned Hamburgers, French-Fries, Tacos and a breakfast menu featuring chorizo, machaca, beef sausage and traditional breakfast fare.  Not only can Baker’s serve up great breakfast food – but can serve it with a favorite beverage such as 100% Colombian Coffee, Cappuccino, Baker’s Bold Roast, and hot chocolate.

 

 
 

To add zest to their menu additions, the chain created Habanero Ketchup, a spicy-hot condiment and a great compliment to Baker’s long-time favorites – “Curl Your Tongue” and traditional hot sauces.
 

Internet savvy consumers enjoy going online weekly to printout special internet-only Deal-of-the-Week coupons redeemable for various menu items at all Baker’s locations.  Many Baker’s loyalists have joined the Baker’s Facebook fan-page and are likewise rewarded with periodic coupons available only to their fans.

 

For many years Baker’s has participated in many philanthropic causes including raising well over 2 million dollars for the Easter Seal Society of Southern California, the favorite charity of its Founder, with its annual Safe Halloween Coupon Book campaign.  Baker’s has also been supportive of Children’s Fund and of many athletic organizations from the Dave Stockton Coyote Classic and Eisenhower high school Home Run Club to the Ruthie Bolton Foundation Basketball Clinic and many local high school athletic programs.  Baker’s also supports the University of Redlands,  California State University San Bernardino and the University of California Riverside as well as the “Run through Redlands,” “Fontana Days’ Run, among others.

Not just an ordinary Businessman – Mr. Baker was extraordinary – a visionary who established his concept to offer quality food that is pleasing and affordable to the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.  His dedicated staff – many employees who have been with the company 10, 20, even 30+ years – provides friendly and quick service that has led to Baker’s celebrating nearly 60 years in business.

 

Mr. Baker continued to serve his community, while expanding his concept and making a difference for the appreciative patrons whom have eaten at the Baker’s establishments for a half-century, until his passing in 2008.  Mr. Baker’s legacy continues with his beloved wife Carol Baker at Baker’s Drive-Thru’s helm and is poised to leave a lasting legacy in the Inland Empire for another 60 years.

 

If one were to use an evolutionary model to study the fast food industry, the primordial soup from which all “life” sprang would most certainly be located in Southern California.  Many chains got their start in this fertile, post-war environment, while countless others have gone the way of the dinosaur.  However, Baker’s Drive-Thru has stood the test of time by constantly evolving to keep up with the ever changing tastes of their customers.