Legendary roadside restaurant Pea Soup Andersen's has closed out of nowhere (Los Angeles: for sale, hotel)

[mattja]

One of California’s most recognizable roadside restaurants has closed without so much as a goodbye to longtime fans and travelers.

Pea Soup Andersen’s, the staple Central Coast destination in Buellton, California — just off Highway 101 en route to the Danish holiday town Solvang — has gone dark, and rumors are swirling that the property itself may be redeveloped for housing. The property was previously listed for sale for just under $5 million in 2021, but no buyer was publicly announced.

The restaurant has a robust history on the Central Coast, claiming at its height to serve 2 million cups of soup to locals and travelers every year. Originally opened by Denmark-born Anton Andersen in 1924 as a highway restaurant serving everyday cafe fare, the signature pea soup quickly became a signature dish and, in short order, the name and calling card for the place.

https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/...d-18600570.php

That's a real bummer. I think I remember my parents stopping there when I was five during our summer vacation drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco many moons ago. I haven't been there in decades, since I5 is much quicker to L.A. than 101. Still sucks to see a place as legendary as that place go away.

[dsb1067]

Too bad! I remember stopping there a few times as a kid too. Usually it involved a trip to Solvang. More recently, just a few years ago, I stopped there while on a business trip...glad I did!

[saibot]

Aww, that's sad. I remember driving up the coast as a kid and seeing the signs for Andersen's starting many miles away from the actual restaurant. There were two cartoon characters on the sign--Hap Pea and Pea Wee, and they were splitting peas with a mallet and wedge if I recall correctly.

I think I only ate there once, though.

[dmlandissf]

Has the Santa Nella Andersen's also closed?

[roadwarrior101]

I used to also have fond memories of stopping there on the way down to SoCal. I do have to say that a few years ago, we stopped at the Buellton location. We were underwhelmed. I'm not sure if it's gone downhill or my food standards have improved but I wasn't very impressed. Better bets for stopping points on 101 would be Apple Farm in SLO or McClintock's in Pismo

[sacreole]

Originally Posted by dmlandissf

Has the Santa Nella Andersen's also closed?

According to the S.F. Chronicle, the Santa Nella location remains open. I’ve eaten at both. What a shame about the Buellton Pea Soup Andersen’s. It should have been designed as an historical landmark.

A second Pea Soup Andersen’s location is still open in the Merced County town of Santa Nella, just off Interstate 5. An employee at the Santa Nella location confirmed the closure of the Buellton restaurant.

[sacreole]

Now according to Channel 3 out of Santa Barbara, the restaurant may reopen once the property is redeveloped. Apparently, the adjacent motel with the same name hasn’t been impacted and is still in operation.

According to Milt Guggia Enterprises Inc. in Santa Maria, the historic restaurant is looking to redevelop and eventually reopen the site and will provide more details once a decision has been made.

The adjacent Pea Soup Andersen's Inn, which has a different ownership than the restaurant, will remain open for weary travelers confirmed employees at the hotel.

https://keyt.com/news/santa-maria-no...redevelopment/

[MechAndy]

I had the soup at the one in Santa Nella in the early 80’s and was unimpressed.
It was bland, had no chunks in it whatsoever and wasn’t cheap either
Their main clients were tourist buses filled with old retired people so that kinda makes sense.

I haven’t seen those tourist buses in quite a while.
I wonder if they really even exist anymore.

It’s a shame that they closed that location though.
I am still seeing strip malls with lots of vacancies throughout the west coast.
To me they are a pretty good indicator on how well our economy is doing.

[mattja]

101 is much older than I-5, and I think once I-5 was completed, that was the preferred path between L.A. and the Bay Area.

I've driven 101 twice from L.A. to the Bay Area and that was enough for me. I-5 is so much faster.

[CA4Now]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I also remember stopping there as a kid with my family. They had the best pea soup ever!