Biff-Burger was brand new when this photo was taken in November 1963. The fast food restaurant and drive-in was located at 845 Corporation Parkway. It featured walk-up ordering and outside eating.
According to the Biff-Burger.com website, the “Biff” in Biff-Burger stands for “best in fast food.” The first Biff-Burger restaurant opened in 1956 in Clearwater, Florida, owned by brothers Bruce and Earl Brane.
The sign in the photo above mentions “roto broiled.” The Brane brothers built the broilers that were used to cook the burgers. The burgers were situated on the broiler so that as the meat cooked, the juices dripped onto and flavored the burger buns that were below the burgers. Notice that the burgers sold for 15-cents in 1963. There was also a special sauce that Biff-Burger fans claim made the burgers extra-special.
The Biff-Burger national chain went out of business in 1976, leaving only two Biff-Burger locations still operating. The Greensboro business changed its name to Beef Burger and is located at 1040 W. Gate City Boulevard (formerly 1040 W. Lee Street). The other location that was operating according to the website was the St. Petersburg, Florida, restaurant.
The photo shown above is a classic example of the architecture of the Biff-Burger drive-ins, featuring the diamond pattern of red, yellow, and teal blue. The star at the top of the sign was another standard feature.
The photo above shows the location of the Biff-Burger on Corporation Parkway, with Parkway Texaco at the left. Other businesses in the background are Big Bear Supermarket and King’s Department Store. Just up the street was a McDonald’s Restaurant (507 Corporation Parkway) and Flow Motors (425 Corporation Parkway).
Photos courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
I remember going to Biff Burger in the early 70s. My mom is used to get my clothes at Kings Dept store above Biff Burger. There were stairs that led down to Biff Burger. I remember Parkway Plaza in the early 70s had Woolworth, Thalhimers and KW Cafeteria also a Mayberrys restaurant and I think a Deweys also a Eckerd’s Drug Store. I went to South Park Baptist School on main street thru the 1970s. Leroy’s Seafood was by our school.