Byron’s serves last burger and strawberry slush

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Byron’s last day

An island-style drive-in restaurant known for its unusual seafood burgers and 24-hour service has closed after 47 years of business.

Byron’s Drive-In near Hono­lulu Airport shut its doors Thursday night, but not without first serving hundreds of its shrimp and oyster burgers — and plates full of memories — to customers.

The restaurant was founded in 1965 by restaurateur Andy Y.Y. Wong, who founded more than a dozen businesses before he died in 1985 at age 58.

Wong’s widow, Marian, said the lease to the property ran out, and her family was still considering all its options.

"We don’t know if we’ll reopen. … We’ll see," she said.

Byron’s Drive-In began at a popular time for drive-in restaurants in Hawaii and elsewhere in the United States — a period when World War II baby boomers enjoyed their own kind of romance with the car and improved highway system.

"This was one of the oldies but goodies," said Bob Chock, who had driven from Wahiawa for one last visit to the popular drive-in.

Chock remembered friends sometimes driving to Kailua to the Wongs’ Windward counterpart, Andy’s Drive-In.

Chock’s wife, Margaret, and many others in line planned to order a strawberry slush float and the popular shrimp burger.

Between 400 and 500 shrimp burgers were sold Wednesday, the family said.

Lanai resident Debbie Wheeler said she happened to be on Oahu when she heard about the closing in December.

Yesterday was her second trip to Byron’s.

Wheeler, whose parents lived in Foster Village and who attended Radford High School, said she was a frequent visitor to Byron’s.

She said her father was a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines and recalled riding with her family to the airport and stopping by Byron’s.

"I have good memories," she said.