Dipsey Doodle was a small chain of 3 restaurants near Ferndale. The first one appears to be 771 East 8 Mile Road at Fair Street in Ferndale. Records show it operating from at least 1948 through 1975. We have yet to find when it closed or when it was demolished (that site is now an empty parking lot). We believe the picture below to be the Ferndale location, a cozy restaurant with drive-in service.

Around 1950 Dipsey Doodle added a new larger restaurant to their chain at 1528 Woodward (South Side just North of the Zoo, across from the Totem Pole). This location was later listed as 1544 Woodward ( perhaps the other end of their parking lot) for some reason. This was a popular place for bands to play and cruisers to hang out making fond memories for most involved. Photos sure looks like they were "Happy Days" back then!

Social media notes that the nickname for the Ferndale location was "Little Dips", while the Woodward location was called "Big Dips".

We have yet to find any information about the 3rd Dipsey Doodle restaurant at 23019 Telegraph (near Nine Mile Rd) in "Southfield Township".

There are many newspaper notes talking about a perfect date being a "luscious cheeseburger and a malted". There are also many stories about neighbor complaints regarding noise, racing, trash, loitering, and rowdy behavior.

In 1961, Sisters Mildred A. and Amanda P. Hund (owners of the Northwood Inn, Club Berkley, and the Totem Pole) bought the Dipsey Doodle on Woodward. They changed everything about the restaurant and renamed it the "Hawaii Drive-In" with polynesian themed food and decor.

While the buildings and businesses are long-gone, youthful memories live on, often reaching peak storytelling during the annual Dream Cruise!

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If you have photos or memories to add please contact the museum at: info@ferndalehistoricalsociety.org