3817 South Peoria Avenue
Home Made Root Beer, and the World's First Hamburgers.
Weber's is a family-owned and operated restaurant that was started in June of 1933. Located in the heart of Brookside at 3817 S. Peoria, the oldest and longest-running business of any kind located in Brookside. Weber's Superior Root Beer was the creation of Oscar "Weber Bilby" back in the late 1800's. Oscar and his wife Fanny moved to Oklahoma from Missouri to a 640 acre farm just north of Sapulpa to an area now know as Bowden, Oklahoma in 1884. Oscar was a farmer but he enjoyed experimenting with different soft drink condiments. Through trial and error, he put together a secret recipe consisting of 14 natural ingredients which were "fire brewed" then stored and aged in birch bark barrels. His famous Weber's Superior Root beer was then served at the peak of the flavoring cycle. Oscar used yeast to carbonate his root beer.
On the fourth of July, 1891, Oscar probably made his most significant contribution to society when he forged a piece of iron into a 3' x 4' grill. He then built a pit and heated the grill with hickory wood. His wife, Fanny, made sour dough buns while Oscar pattied up some black angus all-beef-patties and proceeded to grill the patties on his new hand-made grill. When they were cooked to perfection, he placed the patties between the buns...thus, the first real hamburger was made. He then served them (along with Weber's Superior Root beer, of course) to more than 100 people who were the Bilbys' friends and family. Oscar continued this 4th of July tradition every year for the rest of his life.
His hamburgers and root beer were the hit of the community. Decades of encouragement later, Oscar opened the first Weber's Superior Root beer Stand at 3817 S. Peoria. Oscar felt that the original stand should remain in the Bilby family forever. At the present time Oscar's great grandson Rick Bilby and his wife Jennifer own and operate the original Weber's Superior Root Beer Stand. It is with great pride that they cook their burgers on the original grill, made the same as they were in 1891, every day.(Excerpted from Weber's of Tulsa)
I'm ashamed to say that I have yet to eat my first Weber's hamburger. I'll have to rectify that.
ReplyDeleteAnd that iron grill is still in use today!
ReplyDeleteDo you know of any historic photos of Weber's? Circa 1950 or so?
ReplyDeleteWebbers originally was not at it's present location. It was at the north end of the same block, for many years. It was an actual drive in burger stand, with orange paint and yellow lights under the canopy.
ReplyDeleteWebbers was originally at 3801-03 S. Peoria from 1933 tp 1985
ReplyDeleteWebers also had a Root Beer Stand on East 11th Street during late 1940's early 1950's. Not sure of the exact location but it was on the South side of 11th close to Pittsburg. You could get a frosty mug for a nickle and didn't even have to get out of your car. The car hops took your order and then brought it to your car on a tray that hung from your window usually from the drivers side. Sheila
ReplyDeleteEvery year we leave New Orleans to go to Tulsa for a car show. EVERY time we stop off at Weber's for a delicious hamburger and a root beer. Without a doubt, THE BEST ROOT BEER ANYWHERE! Trust me!!!
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