Pieter Wouden won’t miss the long hours, the hot days behind the grill or the daily stream of small disasters he dealt with as the owner of Woody’s Drive-In in Murray (6172 S. 1300 East). 

What Wouden will miss are the relationships he created with the community and his customers, and the people who stop by Woody’s just to say hello. After 35 years, Wouden and his wife, Christine, are hanging up their aprons and handing the keys of Woody’s to new management. 

The 1950s-themed restaurant is a staple in the city. With its classic burgers, above-the-rim shakes, zucchini fries, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles and French fries handmade fresh every day, it takes a process (and hundreds of pounds of potatoes) to create the food items on Woody’s menu.

“It takes a lot of work,” Wouden said. “If everything was frozen and simple, then maybe I could just work there part time. The great thing is, over the last five years or so, our business really has picked up a lot.”

Wouden and Christine met while they both worked as managers for Arctic Circle. After they married, they wanted to merge family time and work time. They opened Woody’s, creating a place where everyone could work together. It was never about getting rich or franchising the Woody’s business model. It was about raising a family and building something they could be proud of.

Wouden’s official retirement started July 1 and he is interested to see what a summer can feel like when he’s not working behind the grill all day. Traveling is at the top of his list with trips planned to Amsterdam and Iceland.

“After 35 years of, I don’t want to say ruining every summer, but probably being a little bit jealous of the fun other people get to have while I’m slaving away behind the grill, I thought, you know, maybe it’s time to get out of the business,” he said. 

A going away party was held at Woody’s for the Woudens where they were given a picture yearbook to remember moments from the past 35 years. They were able to hear from customers about the memories that had been created at the family-owned restaurant.

“Customers were coming in from all over the place,” Wouden said. “I was able to go out and visit with them, some of those people were from 35 years ago. A group of high school kids from ’89 came in and said, ‘We were your first high school group.’ Of course, I remembered them. High school business was half of my business.”

With four children and 10 grandchildren, the Woudens will have plenty of opportunities to connect with family, and they’re excited to turn Woody’s over to Joe Hansen, the property owner and family friend. Hansen said it’s humbling to take over a 35-year-old community institution and he’s feeling a bit of pressure to get it right. 

“The Wouden family has been absolutely amazing to work with over the past 10 years, and I’m grateful for their friendship in and out of business,” Hansen said. “I’m really excited for the future of Woody’s, the ability to revive things and also continue to deliver the beloved food that people know, love and expect. 

“The last thing I told Pieter after we finalized ‘the deal’ was that I would make him proud. That’s my goal and if I can accomplish that, I know I will have been successful.”

For more information, visit WoodysDriveIn.com.