Did you ever “Swing Down to Sandy’s?” Popular La Crosse burger joints spots past and present

For all of the businesses that can operate at one location for decades, you can find many others that have much shorter lives, or move around.

Drive-ins and burger places often fall into that category, and the La Crosse area has seen its share of changes where folks used to go for fast food.

For example, Rudy’s has been on La Crosse Street for decades, but it was an A&W Root Beer drive-in before that.

The Sandy’s burger chain, originating in Illinois, came to La Crosse in 1962, at Rose and Clinton Streets, where you’ll find River Bank now.

A second Sandy’s opened later on the south side, on Mormon Coulee Road, now occupied by Starbucks. In the early 70’s, most Sandy’s locations were replaced by Hardee’s, and the Hardee’s brand has been seen in many local spots since then.

La Crosse still has Hardee’s at the same Rose Street intersection near Copeland Park.

Until a few years ago, Hardee’s was open on State Road, near the old Kmart, now home to a Mexican restaurant.

In Onalaska, Senor Villa and Famous Dave’s are at sites where Hardee’s used to be. And La Crescent, Sparta, and Tomah have had Hardee’s as well.

They’re still popular in Mauston, Prairie du Chien, and St. Charles, but Hardee’s is one familiar place you don’t see in the region as often as you did.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s is going strong.

It’ been on Losey Boulevard since 1959, but not always on the southwest corner. The current building replaced Golden Arches that opened on the other side of Losey, where Altra Federal Credit Union stands now.

And for 20 years, there was a downtown McDonald’s at 4th and Main, across from Doerflinger’s.