Hamburgers have been the top seller in the chain’s approximately 120 stores, said Marvin, but Santa Paula was also identified with ice cream, banana splits, milk shakes and other such sweets.“When people really want to splurge they get a banana split,” the subject of one of his favorite stories: One night at about 7 p.m. a young boy “came running down the street, sent by his mom for a banana split. We were out of bananas and after I told him he goes running home and then comes back a few minutes later. ‘Mom said she’ll have a banana sundae instead,’” the boy told Marvin. “There’s a lot of funny stories, it’s been entertaining at times,” he added with a laugh.The family is moving to Eagle Point, Oregon and will be licensed Thomas Kinkade dealer at a Medford mall. “We just wanted a change. . .we’ve been doing this a long time and another opportunity came up for us; we decided to pursue it.”Les Thor passed away in 1995, and Eleanor will be staying in Santa Paula.“We really want to say thank you to the people of Santa Paula who made Foster’s Freeze successful and followed us for so many years. . .restaurants have come and gone over the years but what made us was the loyal following,” said Marvin.“Thank you for 53 years from four generations of our family,” said Linda, who noted that their 9-year-old grandson Christian, Les and Eleanor Thor’s great-grandson, has also helped at Foster’s Freeze.
53-year family tradition: Foster’s Freeze, popular Harvard Blvd. eatery, sold
May 04, 2001
Santa Paula News
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By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesIt’s the end of a family tradition with the sale of Foster’s Freeze, a favorite Santa Paula eatery owned by the same family for over 50 years, serving generation after generation of hamburger-hungry customers.Lester and Eleanor Thor opened the East Harvard Boulevard restaurant in 1948; Foster’s Freeze, with its distinctive roly-poly chef logo was taken over by their daughter Linda and her husband, Marvin Schaefer, 22 years ago.Marvin said the Foster’s Freeze franchise got its start in 1947, and Les Thor knew George Foster in Illinois. “My father-in-law was responsible for George moving into the California market,” he noted. Marvin had his own family connection to the chain: his aunt and uncle had an early Foster’s Freeze in Santa Barbara.Santa Paula’s Foster’s Freeze was the sixth store to open on “Friday the 13th of August, 1948,” said Marvin, and immediately became one of the most popular eateries in town.The family atmosphere only helped to boost its popularity: “The family was always there,” for compliments or concerns and outstanding customer service became a tradition. “Foster’s Freeze is known for good service and the customer always appreciates good service, although it’s a battle between serving quality, fresh food and speed,” of preparation, Marvin, the chain’s Products Committee Chairman for a decade, noted. “. . .we sacrificed speed for better food.”Marvin remodeled the restaurant in 1985 to double the size of the store, although he knew it was risky. “I didn’t know if we’d even make it,” and staff was cut, but the day it reopened the lines went around the building. The two Schaefer children, Scott and Dawne, were called upon to help deal with the crush of customers and Marvin found himself working “7 a.m. to midnight every day until we could organized again.”“I grew up wiping tables and stuff and took on real duties when I was 13,” said Scott, who will be staying on at the restaurant.
