5 & 50 Drive-in

Moniteau County, Missouri

5 & 50 Drive-in

(Est. 1952)

From the 2008 Pictorial History of Tipton:

Opened in 1952 by Russell and Lena Brenton, the small business first offered self-serve ice cream products and soft drinks. Over a half-century later, the business still offers ice cream and soft drinks, but has expanded its menu to include foot long hot dogs and chili dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, chicken, pork and fish sandwiches, as well as chicken strip baskets and shrimp baskets. Deep fried cheeseballs were added a few years ago and have been a big favorite.

Due to Russell's poor health, the Brentons sold the business to David Brant in 1959. Brant had just moved back to Tipton from Kansas, and was looking for a business opportunity. Arnie Dueber went into partnership with David Brant in 1964. Arnie bought out the other half of the business in 1965. All six of Arnie and Winnie's children and six grandchildren have worked at 5 & 50 Drive-In. Tipton has seen multiple generations of many families working at 5 & 50 Drive-In through the years.

Rod Dueber and his mother Winnie Dueber now [in 2008] own 5 & 50 Drive-In. Lisa Knipp, Winnie's daughter and Rod's youngest sister is the manager.

5 & 50 Drive-In is still "the little white block building with the cone on top" near the four-way in Tipton! The business offers walk-up window service about nine months out of the year.

From the February 27, 2014 Tipton Times:

5 & 50 Changes Hands After 50 Years

One of the oldest family businesses in Tipton recently changed hands, being sold to an employee of the business.

Rod Dueber and his siblings have passed the keys of 5 & 50 Drive-In on to Trevor Higgins who has worked at the ice creamery for nearly five years. The siblings who live near gathered for a ceremonial photo Saturday morning and to formally extend their best wishes to the new owners. Present were Dueber, his brother, Randy, and sisters Nana Dueber, Tracey Veulemans and Lisa Knipp. Another sister, Vickie, is deceased.

The drive-in was built and opened in 1952 by Russell and Lena Brenton, first offering soft-serve ice cream products and soft drinks. The Brentons sold the business to David Brant in 1959 who had just moved back to Tipton from Kansas. Arnie Dueber went into partnership with Brant in 1964, and a year later, when Brant became an agent for American Family Insurance, Dueber bought out his share.

Arnie ran the drive-in with the help of Winnie and the kids until his disabling heart attack on Feb. 28, 1978. It was Winnie's special recipe for hot dog chili that made the 5 & 50 foot long famous. All six of the Dueber children worked at the drive-in as have many of the granchildren.

Rod, who was working for Craig Distributing at the time, took over the reigns of 5 & 50 at his dad's request after Arnie could no longer run the show. He said he enjoyed his father's daily visits to the drive-in as the two grew closer.

"We didn't open that year until April, and I've operated it ever since," said Rod. "We didn't have any big celebration in our 50 years, we probably should have."

In addition to the footlong and chili dog, the menu at 5 &50 has been expanded through the years to include hamburgers and cheeseburgers, french fries, onion rings, chicken, pork fritters and fish sandwiches, chicken strip and shrimp baskets and cheese balls.

The business has provided the first job for many high school aged teens in Tipton through the years, with generations of some families getting their start there.

"If we had a reunion for the kids that worked there, we'd have to have it at the Knights of Columbus Hall," Rod said. "A lot of successful people worked for us, including doctors and teachers."

Trevor is among those who got his start at 5 & 50, going to work there his senior year of high school in 2009. He graduated the following spring, went to State Fair Community College and is finishing up a degree in business management through Central Methodist University, Fayette.

While he plans little change in the way business is conducted at the little block building on Highway 50 just west of the four-way, Trevor said he will be accepting debit and credit cards as a convenience to customers, and is adding the "Frostbite," a shake with candy and cookie bits added, to the menu. Weather permitting, he plans to extend the season through November.

The drive-in will open for the 2014 season, its 61st, on Monday, March 3.

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