Lets turn back the clock! For generations of New Bedford-area families, the name Howdy Beef n’ Burger brings back more than memories of hamburgers and fries—it brings back a time when grabbing a quick meal could feel like a family outing. We can also confirm a Fall River location, I believe on President Ave.
Howdy Beef n’ Burger was a memorable New England fast-food chain founded in the 1960s by William Rosenberg, the entrepreneur best known for creating Dunkin’ Donuts. Inspired by the beloved children’s television character Howdy Doody, the restaurant brought together fast food, family fun, and a distinctly nostalgic personality.
And for people in New Bedford and the surrounding SouthCoast, Howdy was part of the local landscape.
The menu went well beyond the standard burger-and-fries fare. Customers could order the Big “B,” Howdy’s take on the era’s signature big burgers, along with roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken dinners, and a selection of New England favorites. Seafood was a big part of the menu, too, with haddock, shrimp, fish sandwiches, clam strips, and clam chowder.
Then there were the deals that could turn a family meal into an event—promotions offering four burgers for a dollar, or even twelve burgers for a dollar. For families watching their budgets, those kinds of specials were hard to forget.
But what people remember most today isn’t necessarily what was on the menu. It’s the experience.
There was the familiar greeting: “Howdy, may I help you?” There were coupons to clip, children excited to receive Howdy Doody buttons, and the simple fun of piling into the car and heading out for burgers. These were the kinds of everyday moments that become treasured memories decades later.
And, of course, there was the jingle:
Howdy Beefburger Drive-ins
Serve up tasty treats.
Beefburgers made with just the finest meats.
Howdy Beefburger Drive-Ins,
drive right up and get
Speedy, speedy, speedy service
and the best beefburgers yet.
For those who grew up around New Bedford, hearing those words—or simply seeing the name Howdy—can transport you right back to another era of the city and the SouthCoast. It was a time when local restaurants and drive-ins were gathering places, where a burger run could become a family tradition and where even a small promotion or a children’s button could make an ordinary afternoon memorable.
A special shout-out is also deserved to Burger Beast Blog, whose research and contributions have helped preserve the history of the Howdy Beef n’ Burger franchise and keep these stories alive for a new generation. History isn’t always found in textbooks or museums. Sometimes, it’s found in old menus, advertisements, photographs, jingles, and the memories of people who were there.
Howdy Beef n’ Burger may be gone, but for many former customers, especially those with New Bedford and SouthCoast connections, the memories remain.
Sometimes nostalgia really does taste like a burger, a paper coupon, and a familiar voice saying, “Howdy, may I help you?”
