Two Owensboro Ritzy’s Stores Celebrate Decades of Burgers and Memories

Throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, I couldn't watch television for any length of time without seeing a commercial for G.D. Ritzy's, a retro-style burger joint that tempted my Owensboro taste buds enough that I considered it a worthy excuse to visit Evansville and eat there. During that period, we didn't have one here.

Owensboro’s Ritzy’s Celebrates 30th and 20th Anniversaries

And just as it has been during its three decades in Owensboro, Ritzy’s was well worth the trip to Evansville. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, Ritzy's is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its South Frederica Street location and the 20th anniversary of its Highway 54 location.

How G.D. Ritzy’s Got Its Name and Came to Owensboro

If you've always wondered, like I have, about the "G.D." in the original name, they are the initials of Graydon Douglas Webb, who founded the chain in 1980 and watched it expand to more than 100 stores across 17 states.

It was Mike Courtney who, along with several local pharmacists, brought the first Ritzy's to town in 1996. The second location, at the corner of Highway 54 and Thruston-Dermont Road, opened a decade later in 2006. In a 2020 interview with the Owensboro Times, Mike recalled that there were no other fast-food businesses on that stretch of Highway 54 when the second Ritzy’s opened.

Here's Mike now with a word of thanks...

Interestingly, despite once having more than 100 stores nationwide, Ritzy’s was down to just seven by 2020, including the two here in Owensboro. That could explain why many of us think of it more as a regional chain than a national one. To be honest, I had no idea until researching this story that there had been that many at its peak.

Classic Cars and Ice Cream Keep the Nostalgia Going

And nostalgia? That's what it's all about at Ritzy's, and not just because of those smash burgers and shoestring fries. (Oh, and the ICE CREAM; how have I gotten this far into the story without mentioning that amazing ice cream?) Those signature classic car shows, which began in 1997, have been the perfect complement to the retro vibe for nearly three decades.

Happy 30th and 20th, Ritzy’s. Seems like a pretty good excuse for an ice cream stop on Throwback Thursday.