Blue Swan < Restaurant Ware Collectors Network

Manufacturer: Jackson China and Wellsville China
User: Blue Swan restaurants, Akron, Ohio
Distributor (of Jackson): Edward B. Haskins & Sons, Jersey City
Date of platter: circa 1960; date of cup: circa 1959-69

Oct. 11, 1946

Blue_Swan_The_Akron_Beacon_Journal_Mon_Oct_01_1956_Page_21

Oct. 1, 1956

Blue_Swan_Drive_Inn_Restaurants_The_Akron_Beacon_Journal_Sat_Apr_20_1957_Page_17

April 20, 1957

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Notes: The first mention of the Blue Swan restaurant was a want ad in the Akron Beacon Journal, Sept. 6, 1946, for "WAITRESS and sandwich maker over 21. Inquiries Blue Swan restaurant. 1999 S. Main." This was followed on Oct. 11 by a display ad for The Blue Swan, "Akron's Newest and Finest Sandwich Shop," with a 1992 S. Main address. "Curb Service. Booth Service. Open now day and night 11 a.m. to 4 a.m."

Other ads touted "Famous 'Ole Shanty Town Chicken' served in a basket." "Served to your car!" But despite the name, a swan logo did not accompany the ads.

Ads in 1948 referred to it as "Blue Swan Drive-Inn."

In 1956, ads began appearing for a second location, "Lakes Blue Swan," at 428 Portage Lakes Drive after Hospitality House at that address went into receivership. An oct. 1, 1956, ad in the Akron Beacon Journal announced the grand opening of the second location, Lakes Blue Swan Drive-Inn, shown above, but remarkably still without any associated blue swan signage. Dick Heidman was the owner.

It was an ad for Easter Sunday dinner in the April 20, 1957, issue of the Akron Beacon Journal that was the first ad found with the china's distinctive swan logo: "The Heidman's Blue Swan Drive-Inn Restaurants. The following information was below: Akron, 1999 S. Main; and Lakes Blue Swan, 428 Portage Lakes Drive.

In May 1957, the ads referred to Heidman's Blue Swan Drive-Inn Restaurants. And a Dec. 15, 1969, ad announced "Restaurant Dispersal" at public auction for the Portage Lakes Drive location.

There's a disparity between these ads and a story in the Nov. 4, 1984, issue of the Akron Beacon Journal about "Akron hamburger magnate Richard Heidman" that says "In 1948, he bought the Blue Swan drive-in at 1999 S. Main St. and in 1952, he opened another Blue Swan on Portage Lakes Drive." The real focus of the story was that in 1959, Heidman added to his fast-food businesses by opening the first of what would be 20-some McDonald's in the Akron area.

In 1969, however, the 1999 S. Main location had changed hands, becoming Don Wagoner's Blue Swan Restaurant. By that August, ads referred to Don Wagoner's Restaurant (at 1999 S. Main St.), "Formerly Blue Swan Restaurant." By 1969, then, the original location was no longer a Blue Swan.

Partial airbrushed blue on a white body, topmarked in darker blue letters for Blue Swan next to a swan illustration.

Contributors:
Wellsville photo contributed by Darlyn Wummer
ID contributed by Ed Babcock