25-04-2025
Wonder Whip adding second location
After 70 years at what's now 2434 Kentucky 144, Wonder Whip is adding a second location at 2600 Frederica, the former location of Bowen Tire.
Seth Woodward, who bought the historic drive-in a decade ago, said, 'When we made the decision to resuscitate the restaurant almost 10 years ago on a wing and a prayer, we were simply hoping to keep the Wonder Whip legacy alive for future generations to enjoy. What ended up happening completely surpassed our wildest expectations. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our community, which makes us so excited to see some new faces and make some new friends on Frederica.'
He said, 'We are making a big investment in Owensboro. We are hoping to inject some vibrancy and new vitality into that area. We expect to hire approximately 50 people including management.'
People interested in working at the new restaurant can go to
Woodward said construction is underway.
All design and construction work is being performed by local companies, he said.
Woodward said the new restaurant will be configured similar to the existing location with walk-up service, drive-thru service and a lot of outdoor seating.
The menu and pricing will also be the same.
But Woodward said 'at least in the beginning, the menu at the new location may be streamlined a bit.'
The new location could open this summer, he said.
Woodward was on vacation in Wyoming in August 2015, when he heard that the Wonder Whip had closed after 60 years in business.
'I was shocked and genuinely sad that another piece of our history and culture could be permanently lost,' he said at the time.
'I ate a fair amount of food there when I was younger,' Woodward said. 'I'm an East End guy who wanted to bring it back.'
So, he bought the iconic 840-square-foot restaurant and reopened it in early 2016.
'This place is a landmark, a part of the community,' Woodward said earlier. 'I couldn't believe it when I saw that it had closed. If I was from out of town or even the other side of town, I might not have bought it. But it's important to me. And it's worked out well.'
A legal notice in the June 14, 1955, Messenger-Inquirer announced that Wyndall's Wonder Whip had filed an application for a county permit to sell ice cream, soft drinks and sandwiches.
On July 1, 1955, E.A. Nonweiller, D. Wyndall Smith and John T. Rutledge filed incorporation papers with the state.
The top seller on the menu is still the Wonderburger — a quarter-pound hamburger on a toasted five-inch bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and pickle cooked on an old-fashion flat top grill.
Shakes are in second place followed by ice cream.
Woodward didn't start out planning to operate a restaurant.
Woodward got his degree in mechanical engineering and worked for a while at the Mitsubishi automotive plant in Normal, Illinois.
'But I decided I didn't want to be a mechanical engineer,' he said. 'So I came home and got into business.'
