History

Sometimes an architectural embellishment defines a building and the Kewpee restaurant in downtown Lansing has one of the most unusual. This fourth generation owned restaurant is more than 100 years old and is defined both by its olive burger and the Kewpie doll which graces its location on Washington Sq. Step inside to learn its history.

The Kewpee chain was originally called Kewpee Hotel, although it was never associated with lodging. The Kewpee name was derived from its mascot, the Kewpie doll, which was designed by cartoonist Rose O’Neill in 1909 and soon became an international phenomenon, driven by a popular comic she created for several women’s magazines. Today, a creative depiction of a Kewpie doll graces the entrance to Weston’s Kewpee Sandwich Shoppe.

When Lansing’s original Kewpee Hotel opened, it was on Shiawassee Street, where Lansing Community College now stands. It was one of the first restaurants in Lansing to have drive-in service, and it became a popular hang-out spot for teens from nearby Lansing Central High School.

Early on, Gladys Bowlin developed a secret recipe for a special olive sauce that would top the burgers. The olive burger is still the restaurant’s most popular dish, and the secret sauce recipe is only known to business-owners Autumn Weston; her father, Gary Weston; and Tammie Bunker, who has worked at the restaurant since the early 1980s.

The Weston scion took ownership of the downtown Lansing Kewpee location when Bowlin retired and turned the operation over to her son from her first marriage, Russell Weston. In 1973, the restaurant was torn down as a result of urban renewal and was forced to move. A sandwich-board-style menu from the original location can still be seen at the current location on Washington Avenue.

In the interim, Kewpee opened what was to be a temporary location on South Pennsylvania Avenue before finally relocating to downtown Lansing in 1979.

At one time, the Kewpee restaurant chain at more than 400 locations nationwide. The main downfall for Kewpee was the Great Depression, which left the chain with only 60 locations. A 1967 effort to begin a franchise agreement ended with only six remaining restaurants. Kewpee ranks second only to White Castle as the nation’s oldest hamburger chain. Only a handful of Kewpee Burgers still operate today. 

Autumn Weston, the fourth-generation owner, remembers working with her brother when she was about 10, standing on a milk crate to reach the counter. She respects that she’s part of a family tradition and how that tradition has instilled a work ethic in her. Her mantra is, “If you find a purpose, you find passion.”

Architecture

The building is of a usual vernacular commercial architectural style. The building’s age and architect are unknown. The facade has been modernized and branded to the business.