BY JOE ARCE
This past weekend hundreds of customers came out and waited in line for hours to enjoy what they have been missing for the last several years. Customers were ordering their favorite cheeseburger, tenderloin, Italian steak or shrimp baskets etc. There were no complaints about the wait for some customers that waited hours. Most of the customers spent the time talking to each other on how they were looking forward to biting into one of those sandwiches. And for many of the customers it’s been too long that they have eaten at Paul’s Drive-In, now known as Paul’s Drive-In Jr.
Jose Angel Sustaita told Hispanic News as he waited in line, “When I heard Paul’s was opening up, I got excited. Paul’s is iconic. When you think of Armourdale (neighborhood) you think of Paul’s. I was going somewhere else to eat, but said, I am willing to wait in line for hours if I have to. This is a dream come true. It’s been too long of a wait for this place to come back. The ladies in front of me said they grew up on Paul’s, now their grandchildren will know what Paul’s is. This is a generational restaurant.”
Sustaita admits this is not the healthiest food to eat, “my diabetes machine was going off this morning, but I don’t care, Paul’s will beat my diabetes machine any day. I have glorious memories way back when in the late 70’s to early 80’s when I was a kid growing up. You know it was heartbreaking to see them close and now I’m overjoyed to see Paul’s re-open.”
Canar Jones said, “I learned Paul’s was opening last Wednesday. I told my sister we got to come here. So, when I came here there was a line so I just left and decided to come back this weekend. I’ve been coming here since I was 5 years old with my uncle and I’m 44 years old now… my favorite is their double cheeseburger and strawberry shake and I’m set.”
Susan Araujo said she bought 5 cheeseburgers baskets after a long wait. “I live far in Louisburg, Kansas so I heard Paul’s had re-opened so I decide to revisit it.” Araujo pointed out she didn’t want to miss out on the re-opening because she has seen a lot of local restaurants close like the Tenderlion Grill (now relocated in the city market) in KC Westside neighborhood and others. She and her family were happy to have Paul’s back open.
Daniel Macias, new owner of Paul’s Drive-In Jr., told Hispanic News what it is like for him and his staff to see all the customers come back, “It’s crazy. It’s a blessing.” Macias admits he imagined all of this scenario before opening the restaurant because of the popularity of Paul’s Drive-In.
For the line of customers being this long and people waiting as long as they have… I never imagined that and that shows how much this place is a landmark and everybody missed it. We all grew up with Paul’s. I grew up just blocks away from here and I would come here 3 to 4 times a week.” Since reopening, Paul’s, Macias has made it a point to visit with the customers in line and let them know how much he, his family and staff appreciate them coming back. “There are no words for it. It just shows how much everyone missed Paul’s Drive In. I appreciate them all, and thank them for waiting hours and hours for this and people telling me this is the best 3 ½ hours waiting in my life and they tell me how much they missed Paul's Drive In.”
