LIVONIA (WWJ) -- An era of classic car-hop dining has come to an end as Metro Detroit's last remaining Daly Drive-In closes its doors.
Located at the corner of Plymouth and Merriman roads, the beloved Livonia eatery has been a community fixture for well over six decades.
The Daly chain traces its origins back to Dearborn Heights in 1948, and at its peak, spanned 19 locations across Metro Detroit. The Livonia drive-in, which opened in 1959, stood as the lone survivor.
Interior view of the Daly Drive-In.
(Credit: Darrylin Horne/WWJ)
Customers enjoy the Daly Drive-In one final time.
(Credit: Darrylin Horne/WWJ)
When news came last spring of the planned closure, the announcement triggered an overwhelming rush of nostalgic patrons. Ownership opted to keep the exact final date under wraps until this week to protect its busy staff.
Despite the quiet notice, WWJ's Darrylin Horne reports long lines formed early on Wednesday (10/28), wrapping entirely around the building as longtime regulars gathered to say goodbye and order their favorite Daly burgers, Daly dogs, foot-long coneys, ham sandwiches, and shakes one final time.
While original closing plans pointed to normal evening hours, high customer volume and demand pushed staff to adjust operations to handle the rush.
Among the crowd waiting in line on the last day was John Fannon, who said he's been frequenting Daly Drive-In since 1965.
"When I was 18 years old at the Daly's at Main Street and Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth, I ate three foot-long coney dogs in one sitting. That is a yard of chili dogs. And I struggle to get through one now, but I ate three in one sitting. That's my claim to fame at Daly's," Fannon said.
When asked how he felt after putting away three feet of chili dogs, Fannon laughed: "Very full."
For Fannon and countless other regulars, the real magic was always what went on top of the food:
"The special sauce. I don't know what it is, it's addicting," he told Horne. "I was always confused when you'd come to Daly's and they'd ask you, 'Do you want the sauce?' Well, if you don't put that sauce on it, I'd go to any other hamburger joint. It's the sauce. It was always the sauce."
With the final orders wrapped and memories shared, management said the Livonia location would close, permanently, at 7 p.m.
