2004 Lifetime Award Recipient
Founder, Baker's Drive-Thru restaurants (1924 - 2008)
A business visionary, Neal T. Baker imagined a business offering great homemade food, cooked fresh to order and delivered with friendly service.
His creation, Baker’s Drive-Thru®, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2012. Established in 1952 in his hometown of San Bernardino, Mr. Neal T. Baker’s local empire has grown to 37 restaurants, Victorville to the North, Corona to the South, Beaumont to the East and Upland to the West – to all points in-between! In that time, Baker’s has earned the title of “Best Fast Food” in San Bernardino County as voted upon by readers of the San Bernardino Sun.
Baker’s humble beginnings in the building-trade began, when in 1946, his family started an adobe brickyard business selling heavy earthen bricks to the construction industries. In time Baker established himself as an accomplished commercial and residential builder. Years later he also became a cofounder of the Business Bank of San Bernardino, now known as the Business Bank of California.
Baker was inspired to enter the burger business by his friends Mac and Dick McDonald; he watched as their drive-through prospered during the 1940s, allowing the brothers to live in a 25-room mansion and visit the restaurant in brand new Cadillacs.
Baker’s best friend was a high school classmate and ex-marine, Glenn Bell, who in 1953 opened an all-Mexican fast-food restaurant, Taco-Tia (later Taco Bell). Baker, realizing the potential of his friend’s idea, incorporated Mexican fast food into his burger restaurants, giving birth to the “twin kitchen” concept, which the company employs to this day. Guests can opt for the American kitchen and order a cheeseburger, fries and milkshake, or get a taco, burrito and bean cup from the Mexican kitchen. Both kitchens also serve breakfast meals, including hash browns, egg sandwiches, egg burritos and soft egg tacos.
Baker’s love for the food business grew, and in 1953 he opened a second Baker’s location in Rialto. By 1955, Baker had become a standout in the industry as innovator in creating America’s first “twin kitchen” operation; an offering of both American and Mexican entrees, a concept that quickly caught on with the evolving Inland Empire customers.
This Baker’s Drive-Thru founder whipped up a real treat in 1987, when he introduced real hand-dipped ice-cream floats and shakes that are available today in the traditional flavors, as well as additions of Oreo, Butterfinger and Snickers specialty milkshakes.
In 1995, Baker acknowledged the special character of the Loma Linda community with its predominance of Seventh-day Adventists who are largely vegetarian. He introduced an array of non-meat selections including the Boca Burger – calling it the Loma Linda Kitchen menu – and adding this special menu to more stores all the time.
Inovative and creative– What really sets Baker’s Drive-Thru apart from other quick-serve restaurants other than the “twin kitchen” concept, is that all food is prepared fresh to order. Even the milkshakes are made to order. They are scooped and blended by hand with real ice cream!
For many years, Baker’s raised money for The Children’s Fund and the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Baker and his restaurant employees have raised more than million since 1990 for The Easter Seals Society through sales of Safe Halloween Coupon Books. Baker’s also supported many athletic organizations from the Dave Stockton Coyote Classic and Eisenhower High School Home Run Club to the Ruthie Bolton Foundation Basketball Clinic and Yucaipa High School Football team. Baker also supported California State University, San Bernardino and the University of California, Riverside Athletic Programs, as well as the annual “Run Through Redlands.” Baker also established business scholarship funds at both the University of Redlands and California State University San Bernardino.
Not just an ordinary businessman – Mr. Baker was extraordinary – a visionary who worked long hard days to establish his dream to offer quality food that is pleasing and affordable to the residents of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.