{"id":245253,"date":"2025-05-17T13:10:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T13:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/burger\/remembering-lums-restaurant-history\/"},"modified":"2025-05-17T13:10:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T13:10:50","slug":"remembering-lums-restaurant-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=245253","title":{"rendered":"Remembering LUMS Restaurant + History"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Some food memories are so strong, they feel like a part of your DNA. For many, LUMS<\/strong> restaurants and their unique beer-steamed hot dogs are a taste of pure nostalgia. But what if I told you that LUMS was also the launchpad for another cult favorite, the Ollie Burger<\/strong>, served from a distinctive trolley car? Get ready, because we\u2019re diving deep into a delicious slice of American restaurant history, culminating in a personal quest to taste a legend.<\/p>\n

LUMS: Where Beer-Steamed Dreams Began<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It all started in 1956 in Miami Beach, Florida. Two brothers, Stuart and Clifford S. Perlman, opened a modest 16-seat diner that would soon become an empire. The star of the show? The LUMS hot dog is uniquely steamed in beer and nestled in a perfectly steamed bun. It was a simple concept, but it captured the taste buds of a nation.<\/p>\n

LUMS wasn\u2019t just about hot dogs; it was about a casual, fun dining atmosphere that resonated with families and folks looking for a good, affordable meal. The chain exploded in popularity. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, LUMS had grown to over 400 locations across the U.S. and internationally too! In 1969, the company even went public, a testament to its roaring success.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A
A classic LUMS restaurant in 1973<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

However, rapid expansion can be a double-edged sword. By the mid-1970s, LUMS started facing choppy waters. The company was stretched thin, profitability dwindled, and the ever-shifting sands of consumer taste and rising fast-food competition presented serious hurdles.<\/p>\n

In 1978, LUMS filed for bankruptcy. A year later, a name synonymous with restaurant revitalization stepped in: John Y. Brown Jr. This was the man who had taken Colonel Sanders\u2019 Kentucky Fried Chicken<\/a><\/strong> concept and helped build it into a global phenomenon. Brown rolled up his sleeves, updating menus and cutting costs, hoping to steer LUMS back to its glory days.<\/p>\n

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\"Last\"Last
Last LUMS in Bellevue, Nebraska closed in June 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Sadly, despite these efforts, the financial struggles continued. Location after location closed its doors. By the early 1980s, the once-mighty LUMS chain had largely vanished, leaving behind a legacy of beer-steamed hot dogs and fond memories for those who\u2019d dined there.<\/p>\n

The Colonel of Burgers? The Ollie\u2019s Trolley Connection<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Ollie's\"Ollie's
LUMS Ollie Gleichenhaus<\/strong> \u2013 The Evening Sun October 13th, 1976<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Now, here\u2019s where the story takes an even more intriguing turn. Remember John Y. Brown? After acquiring LUMS in 1971 (even before its later bankruptcy, he had also purchased Caesars Palace Casino in Las Vegas in 1969 with the Perlmans, then sold his LUMS shares to them before they sold the whole company to Brown later), he wasn\u2019t just looking to maintain the status quo. He was on the hunt for the next big thing, specifically, an unforgettable burger to add to the LUMS arsenal.<\/p>\n

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\"Ollie's\"Ollie's
Ollie\u2019s Sandwich Shop in 1973<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

His quest led him to Ollie Gleichenhaus\u2019s 20-seat sandwich shop in Miami. Ollie\u2019s burgers were the stuff of local legend, seasoned with a secret 32-spice blend. Brown tasted it, loved it, and knew he had to have it.<\/p>\n

But Ollie wasn\u2019t easily swayed. Brown made multiple offers to buy the recipe, even promising to make Ollie \u201cmore famous than Colonel Sanders.\u201d It took some persistent persuasion (and perhaps a bit of ego stroking!). Still, eventually, after 37 years of running his beloved shop, Ollie Gleichenhaus closed its doors and joined forces with the LUMS team to streamline his complex burger recipe.<\/p>\n

All Aboard the Ollie\u2019s Trolley!<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Ollie's\"Ollie's
Ollie\u2019s Trolley in 1975<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

While Ollie and the LUMS crew were perfecting the burger, Brown was cooking up another idea: a compact, take-out-only eatery housed in a distinctive trolley car. These trolleys were designed to be efficient and capable of fitting into just three parking spaces. A brilliant spark ignited at some point, why not combine the incredible Ollie Burger with the novel trolley concept?<\/p>\n

And so, in early 1973, the first Ollie\u2019s Trolley clanged its bell and opened its doors in Louisville, Kentucky. Nearly 100 of these eye-catching trolleys dotted the American landscape within three short years.<\/p>\n

But, much like its parent, LUMS, the Ollie\u2019s Trolley concept struggled to maintain long-term traction despite its unique appeal and delicious burger. By the early 1980s, these charming trolleys were rapidly disappearing.<\/p>\n

(For those die-hard fans desperate to recreate the magic at home, the Ollie Burger recipes<\/a> have surfaced online \u2013 a quick search should reward your culinary curiosity!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

My Ollie\u2019s Trolley Pilgrimage: Tasting History in Louisville<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Ollie's\"Ollie's
Ollie\u2019s Trolley in Louisville, Kentucky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Fast forward to a recent trip, and the excitement was almost unbearable. Knowing I would finally eat at one of the last remaining Ollie\u2019s Trolleys \u2013 the one in Louisville, the birthplace \u2013 was a moment I\u2019d anticipated for years.<\/p>\n

As my friend John navigated our rental car, with my wife in the passenger seat, I was shaking with excitement in the back. Then, he turned the corner, and everything seemed to shift into slow motion. There it was. Standing proudly in the parking lot, Ollie\u2019s Trolley looks just like the vintage pictures I\u2019d pored over.<\/p>\n

I had to take a moment. I walked up, stood before it, and just soaked it all in. You know that feeling \u2013 \u201cWill I ever make it back here again?\u201d It adds a certain weight, a certain magic to the experience.<\/p>\n

Stepping Inside<\/h3>\n
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\"Menu\"Menu
Ollie\u2019s Trolley Menu Board<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A small line had formed, and John and I eagerly joined. Stepping inside is like stepping back in time. It\u2019s snug, to say the least. The menu board hangs on the far right wall, the order window next to it, and the pickup window to the left. You could fit six or seven people comfortably, which might be a generous estimate!<\/p>\n

With my sack of food in hand, we retreated to the car. The first bite of that Ollie Burger\u2026 wow. A lot is going on, flavor-wise. The patty was much larger than I\u2019d envisioned. I have to say, I suspect this current sauce might be a different iteration from what Ollie Gleichenhaus originally slathered on his burgers in that little Miami shop, but it was undeniably unique.<\/p>\n

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\"Ollie\"Ollie
Ollie Burger with Cheese<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Verdict?<\/strong> The Ollie Burger is excellent, distinctly different, and I\u2019ll be honest, it might not be for everyone due to its complex spice profile. But those seasoned fries? Utterly addictive. They were the perfect companion to the spiced-up, Thousand Island-esque Ollie\u2019s Sauce.<\/p>\n

\"Sack\"Sack
Sack of Ollie Fries<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where to Find an Ollie (and a Taste of LUMS Past):<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Ollie's\"Ollie's
Ollie\u2019s Trolley<\/strong> for Sale Classified Ad in 1981<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n