Pea Soup Andersen's, Restaurant chain in California, United States
Pea Soup Andersen's is a restaurant in Buellton marked by a large working windmill structure that rises above the building and is visible from the highway. The distinctive landmark has guided travelers through this part of California for decades.
The restaurant was founded in 1924 by Anton and Juliette Andersen as Andersen's Electric Cafe, named after their new electric stove. The business grew from this modest beginning into a recognized stop for travelers driving through California.
The cartoon characters Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee emerged in the 1940s as marketing symbols and still appear on signs along California highways. They have become part of the local roadside identity that travelers recognize when passing through.
The restaurant serves an all-you-can-eat pea soup option called the Traveller's Special alongside sandwiches and traditional American fare. Be aware that this is a popular stop for highway travelers, so it can get crowded during peak hours.
Stop-motion animator Art Clokey, known for creating Gumby, produced commercials for the restaurant in the early 1950s. This connection to a pioneering animator is often overlooked today but was significant to the restaurant's advertising at the time.
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