The Arctic Roadrunner

by Mary Jane Dougherty
(California)

Some History

A fellow named Richard Sanchis came to Anchorage by way of the military in 1962.

Two years later, Sanchis was serving cheeseburgers out of a trailer (food truck) with the name “Arctic Roadrunner”, at the Alaska State Fair in 1964.

Following up with his success, Sanchis opened two permanent locations. One at 2477 Arctic Boulevard and another at 5300 Old Seward Highway.

Remember the burgers?

The Alaskan Banquet, Kenai Whopper, Kodiak Islander.

What are your favorite memories of the Arctic Roadrunner?

Just thinking about the Arctic Road Runner's Alaskan Banquet hamburger is making me hungry.

Our favorite location was at 2477 Arctic Boulevard in midtown Anchorage.

Back then, the Arctic Roadrunner restaurant was just a trailer. My older brothers, sister and I drove up to the drive through window and placed our order of several Alaskan Banquet hamburgers and sodas. On one visit, after we were handed the bag containing our order, we pulled over in the parking lot to eat.

We sat in the car listening to, The “Royal Coachman,” Ron Moore on the radio. He was playing our favorite song, Elvis's, “Blue Suede Shoes.” Then after our first bite of our hamburgers, all you could hear was “Yum! Delicious! This tastes so delicious!” We were having a blast as we listened to the radio while we were laughing and eating one of the best hamburgers and sodas ever.

After that day, the Arctic Roadrunner became one of my sister and brother's favorite places to eat.

Then, when Mike (who would become my husband) and I started dating in the winter of 1967, it became a favorite place to eat.

And later on, it was a favorite place to go out and dine with our young children.

Their hamburger menu has some interesting names. The “Alaskan Banquet”, “Arctic Cheese”, “Kodiak Island” and the “Kenai Whopper.”

Smaller burgers include the “Lord Baranof” and also one of my other favorites, the “Attu Burger.”

Wow, I'm starving now.

So, when you're in Anchorage, please go to the Arctic Roadrunner, our all-time favorite burger restaurant where Anchorage locals and newcomers love and enjoy a great burger.



Comments for The Arctic Roadrunner

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		First Date at the Arctic Roadrunner
by: Jim & Gail Hutto

My wife and I had our first date at the Arctic Roadrunner on the Old Seward Highway.

We sat out by Campbell creek and I knew she was the one.

We have been married 39 years (using 12 counselors) and raised up 2 Awesome Arctic boys.

The Arctic Roadrunner is always our go-to burger place.

We keep saying we are going to turn in our pictures for the restaurant's wall but haven’t done it yet.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Roadrunner
by: Keo

Love the Attic Roadrunner.

I worked there back in 1975. I had such fun and loved that everything was made fresh. And I remember making onion rings and milkshakes every day.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Great Memory, Great Burgers
by: Mike

Oh, I'm so hungry for an Alaskan Banquet hamburger right now.

The Arctic Roadrunners are an Anchorage favorite. But it's also hard to beat a Lucky Wishbone cheeseburger basket.

Our family even had a favorite booth in the Arctic Roadrunner location you mentioned in your story.

Thank you for the yummy memories.

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