Dairy bars, otherwise known as milk bars, are a thing of the past in San Antonio, but less than a decade ago, Floyd’s Dairy Bar was still kicking on the city’s Southeast Side, where the business served up affordable burgers and shakes for more than 55 years.
What exactly is a dairy bar? No, it’s not a place where cows can get drunk. Floyd’s Dairy Bar was a proper example of the concept with its milk-powered menu of malts, milkshakes and floats, so essentially, the idea is it’s a place to grab a sweet, creamy treat among a small selection of hot foods. While it no longer exists, Floyd’s was once a San Antonio institution for its simple selection and low prices, especially when it came to burgers.
In 1961, founder Floyd Bell opened Floyd’s Dairy Bar as a one-stop shop for the hungry masses on the stretch of Goliad Road that was also home to the first Bill Miller Bar-B-Q. Bell operated the business until 1970, when he sold it to Leroy Tondre, the man who, along with his family, would run Floyd’s Dairy Bar for the next 47 years.
Throughout the decades, Floyd’s Dairy Bar became known for a certain burger deal that packaged five burgers for as low as $2.25 in its earlier days. Of course, inflation would see those prices rise somewhat over time, but it never appeared to surpass the $5 mark. Other menu highlights included chili dogs, onion rings, ice cream cones and banana splits.
Why did Floyd’s Dairy Bar in San Antonio close?
Like many businesses, Floyd’s Dairy Bar began to hit some roadblocks in the 2010s, following an economic downturn. In a 2012 article published by MySA, Tondre’s daughter, Judy Tondre, said that the restaurant was losing money because her father was hesitant to raise prices despite rising costs…