For 61 years the Minnetonka Drive-In at 4658 Shoreline Dr. in Spring Park has been a summertime staple for people cruising the chain of lakes west of Minneapolis.
Like most businesses, the Minnetonka Drive-In is coming off a year where the COVID-19 pandemic presented all sorts challenges.
Owners Dave and Deb Bennyhoff are hoping Memorial Day weekend helps bring normalcy back to the area, even more.
"It's kind of the opening weekend for people going to their cabins," Dave Bennyhoff said. "I'd say it's 50/50 when it comes to people either going out of town or staying in town. When it's a cool weekend like this, there's not a ton that are going to get out on the lake."
Dave Bennyhoff has been part of the drive-in ever since his parents built it in 1960. As an 8 year old boy, Dave was tasked with washing glass jugs in the basement and eventually took over operations.
Summer 2020 was a summer unlike any other for their business. The drive-in was able to reopen amidst COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and restrictions that left many in the restaurant industry shutdown, or with limited takeout options.
"We did three summers in one last year," he said. "Our sales were three-times what a normal summer would be."
With more reopening as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in Minnesota, Bennyhoff says that business is still doing well, especially with the number of nice days that have allowed more people to visit them.
"We're not crazy, crazy busy like we were during COVID, but we're way ahead of the year when COVID hit," he said. "We're probably doing half again as much as we did last year."
Upwards of 50 teenagers are hired each year to work at the Minnetonka Drive-In and this year, finding enough employees has been a challenge.
Bennyhoff believes that unemployment money offered to teens has contributed to the lack of workers, but says there's still plenty of opportunity for people who want to work.
"It's the kitchen where we just can't seem to find anyone who wants to cook," he said. "We pay well, it's not that they're not making good money. It's not one of these $10 an hour jobs anymore. If a teenager can make $20 an hour, that's a good wage."
Despite it being the 61st year for the Minnetonka Drive-In, there are plans to hold 60th anniversary celebrations that were scheduled to take place last year.
Starting in June, the drive-in will host a series of concerts featuring a wide variety of music.
