90 years of A&W Root Beer

The closest that April Anderson had been to Lodi was San Juan Capistrano and San Diego. But the Springfield, Mo., resident spent the weekend in Lodi after winning a contest sponsored by A&W Root Beer in connection with the restaurant's 90th birthday bash on Lodi Avenue.

"I hadn't heard of Lodi," Anderson said. "I've been told there is a song about Lodi."

She brought her mother, Peggy, for a VIP tour of everything Lodi. They were joined by local winners Lucy and Scott Molinari, who own Minerva's Fine Furnishings on Oak Street.

"I think it's a wonderful place. It kind of reminds me of where we're from," April Anderson said. "There is lots to see and do, and it's close to lots of other places. They have so much to offer."

After Nancy Beckman, the CEO of Visit Lodi! Conference and Visitors Bureau, picked up the visitors from Missouri on Thursday, the Andersons were treated to a spa treatment at Wine & Roses before heading to the Farmers Market and dinner at Lodi Beer Co.

"I really liked the Downtown, the Farmers Market," said April Anderson, who enjoyed talking to the farmers peddling their crops. "We got a real feel for the city there."

The Andersons also enjoyed seeing the A&W plaque, marking the site of the original A&W site on Pine Street, a half-block from the Lodi Arch. The three wineries they saw represented a new experience to them.

A&W 90th Birthday VIP winners April Anderson and her mother, Peggy Anderson, from Springfield, Mo., are greeted at Sacramento International Airport by the Root Beer Bear. The Andersons were treated to a VIP tour of the Lodi area as part of the anniversary festivities. (Courtesy photo)

"I didn't realize how much work went into it," April Anderson said.

And chocolate pasta? Yep, they have it in Clements, but not in Springfield, Mo.

The Andersons were also impressed with the Gold Rush-era buildings they saw, and how green and lush it is in Lodi.

April Anderson ended up in Lodi rather unexpectedly. She is a frequent visitor to the A&W restaurant in Springfield, and she's a prolific coupon collector who loves to save money. She went to A&W's Web site looking for coupons when she saw an announcement about the Lodi A&W's 90th birthday and a possible trip to Lodi.

April wrote an essay on why she should be selected for the weekend in Lodi. She was surprised that she won because she had forgotten all about the contest. But she and her mother were off on a plane to Sacramento last Thursday, and they flew home Sunday morning.

A full weekend in Lodi

Here's how mother and daughter Peggy and April Anderson, of Springfield, Mo., and Lodi merchants Lucy and Scott Molinari spent their whirlwind weekend in Lodi:

Thursday: Fly to Sacramento, spa treatment at Wine & Roses, Farmers Market in Downtown Lodi, dinner at Lodi Beer Co.

Friday: Breakfast at Wine & Roses, tours of Woodbridge and Van Ruiten wineries and Chocoholics in Clements, lunch at Phillips Farms and Michael~David Winery, private tour of the Lodi Wine & Visitors Center, boat tour of the Mokelumne River from Lodi Lake and a Lodi Baseball Club game at Tony Zupo Field. They threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game.

Saturday: Tours of Micke Grove Zoo and the San Joaquin County Historical Museum, box lunch at Micke Grove Park, a tour of the World of Wonders Science Museum and the big A&W birthday bash, featuring a live band, 200 classic cars and cake for 5,000 people.

Sunday: Breakfast at Wine & Roses, late-morning flight home.

Source: Peter Knight, A&W Root Beer

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

Ryan Shook, 14, left, and Berkley Price, 14, right, make rootbeer floats during the A&W 90th anniversary celebration Saturday. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 2:50 p.m. Monday, June 22 to correct who picked up the Andersons.

Reader Feedback

sleahc wrote on Jun 27, 2009 9:32 AM:

" A&W rocks!!!! What a great show,people,food and cheap family fun. "

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dogbark wrote on Jun 23, 2009 11:48 PM:

" LOL weezer! In the video, the shock on Pete Knight's face when Howser just pushed behind the counter with a "Golly Gee, let's just make a Root Beer float," was priceless. "

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sparky wrote on Jun 23, 2009 8:27 PM:

" The LNS forgot to mention that a good portion of the transportation was donated by Eric Schneider of Vintage Limousine Service of Lodi. That's how the winners were transported to these "wonderful" places such as the wineries and Chocoholics in Clements.
They were also delivered to the the 90th birthday bash in style by Eric Schneider of Vintage Limousine Service of Lodi. "

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Wickster wrote on Jun 23, 2009 7:51 AM:

" The best part of the event is when all the car owners fired up their cars in unison. Algore should have been there. There he would have seen what America is all about. Instead, he is pushing his Global Warming scheme. What a fraud he is. Wake up America before he ruins anything else. God Bless America. "

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