The century-old Pick’s Drive-In, a Cloverdale landmark for generations, will reopen in mid-January after months of renovation by Anidel Hospitality, the Sonoma-based company founded by entrepreneur Chris Fanini. The group specializes in breathing new life into historic properties, including the Sonoma Cheese Factory and Lake Tahoe’s Chambers Landing.
Often cited as the oldest drive-in in California, Pick’s — soon to be renamed Pick’s Roadside — traces its roots to the early 1920s. It originally opened in 1923 as Reed and Bell’s Root Beer Stand, a regional franchisee of A&W Root Beer, founded by Lewis Reed and H.C. Bell. In the early 1950s, Mayo and Johnie Mae Pickard purchased the roadside stand and renamed it Pick’s Drive-In.
While the paper trail gets a little fuzzy when it comes to Pick’s claim as the “oldest,” there’s no doubt about its century-long evolution from roadside pit stop to full-fledged drive-in, serving burgers, fries and frosty mugs to generations of farmers, families and travelers.
The new menu will stick closely to the classics — burgers, milkshakes, root beer floats and fries. But this being Sonoma County, burgers will be made with premium Wagyu beef and optional ingredient upgrades will be available. The drink list will include a curated selection of wine and beer. Maybe most importantly, Pick’s much-loved red relish is making a return.
“Our goal was to create the best burger in Sonoma County,” said Anidel managing director John Wittig.
When the business was put up for sale in 2024, its future was uncertain. Anidel Hospitality saw an opportunity to revive, rather than raze, a piece of Cloverdale’s history.
“Pick’s has always been more than just a restaurant,” said Amber Lanier, a fifth-generation Cloverdale resident and general manager of Pick’s Roadside, in a June interview. “It’s a gathering spot, a piece of history and a place that has shaped the memories of so many in Cloverdale.”
This may be just the beginning of Anidel Hospitality’s focus on historic Cloverdale projects, according to Wittig.
“We want an active role in the revitalization of Cloverdale. We have a couple of businesses in mind,” he said. The company has already revived Sonoma’s historic Cheese Factory and purchased Sonoma’s Best Modern Mercantile from embattled developer Ken Mattson.
“The majority of investors don’t want the complexity of these historical buildings — and we have experience handling them. We see so much opportunity here,” said Wittig.
Cloverdale, a town of nearly 9,000, has shared the fate of many highway bypass communities, slipping off the radar after Highway 101 was rerouted in the 1990s. The old Redwood Highway once ran through the heart of downtown, delivering a steady stream of travelers to local shops and restaurants before traffic sped past instead.
More details on Pick’s planned Jan. 10 opening are expected soon.