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- Dec 31, 192875% CONFIDENCEen.wikipedia.org
The Varsity Opens by Georgia Tech
Frank Gordy opened the Varsity in 1928 beside Georgia Tech, and it grew into what it still calls the world's largest drive-in - two blocks of car park, a counter shouting What'll ya have, and chili dogs, onion rings and Frosted Orange by the ton on a football Saturday.
- Frank Gordy opened the place in 1928 at Luckie Street and Hemphill Avenue as The Yellow Jacket, aimed at Georgia Tech students, then renamed it The Varsity to reflect his plan to open near other campuses.[1][6]
- It claims to be the world's largest drive-in, spanning two city blocks with seating for more than 800 inside and parking for about 600 cars.[1]
- On football game days it serves over 30,000 people, according to the Atlanta History Center.[1][6]
- Wikipedia cites The Baltimore Sun (1998) for over 12,000 hot dogs a day, deliverable at more than 1,000 a minute by conveyor belt, and Garden & Gun (2018) for up to 2,400 fried fruit pies an hour.[1]
- The ordering slang is part of the draw: the greeting What'll ya have?, F.O. for frosted orange, P.C. for plain chocolate milk with ice, naked dog walking for a plain hot dog and glorified steak for a hamburger.[6]
- Carhop Flossie Mae sang the menu items for fifty years, and the comedian Nipsy Russell began as car hop number 46.[6]
- Curb service ended in July 2020 and resumed in a modified form in September 2020; the flagship is now at 61 North Avenue beside the Downtown Connector, with seven more locations around metro Atlanta.[1]
Food photographs are from the restaurant’s official website and show seasonal or representative dishes; they may differ from the current menu and do not document the historical opening date.