Long before drive-thrus and dollar menus became the norm, Long Island already had its own version of fast food. The name was Wetson’s. If you don’t remember it, you’re not alone. But if you grew up here in the 60s or 70s, there’s a good chance you ate there without thinking twice about it.
It Started in Levittown
In 1959, in Levittown, brothers Herb and Errol Wetanson opened the first Wetson’s.
They were just 21 and 18 years old at the time.
The idea came after one of them visited California and saw the original McDonald’s brothers restaurant. That model of quick, affordable food stuck and they brought it back to Long Island.
- First location opened in Levittown in 1959
- Founded by brothers Herb and Errol Wetanson
- Inspired directly by the original McDonald’s concept out west
This wasn’t a copycat in the modern sense. It was one of the earliest attempts to bring that style of dining to this region.
It Grew Fast and Felt Like Everywhere
Wetson’s didn’t stay small for long.
Within just a few years, it expanded across the Northeast:
- By 1964, there were already 14 locations
- At its peak, the chain reached 72 restaurants across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
- The brand even had two clown mascots named Wetty and Sonny
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For a time, Wetson’s was not just a local curiosity. It was becoming a real regional player. And the prices reflect just how different things were back then.
- A hamburger cost 15 cents
- The company paid about 30 cents per pound for meat
Those numbers feel almost unreal now, but they were part of what made the concept work.
The Look You Probably Passed Without Realizing
Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, the design might. Wetson’s locations borrowed from early fast food architecture but added their own signature style.
- Buildings were inspired by the original McDonald’s layout
- Bright orange neon rings sat on the roof and made the locations instantly recognizable
Then the Competition Arrived
For a while, Wetson’s held its ground. But the fast food giants were coming. As McDonald’s and Burger King expanded into the region, the competition shifted fast. Wetson’s was suddenly up against companies with deeper pockets, stronger branding, and the ability to scale nationally. It became harder to keep up.
The End of Wetson’s
By the mid-1970s, Wetson’s run was coming to an end.
- In 1975, the chain merged with Nathan’s Famous
- Nathan’s chose to discontinue the Wetson’s brand
But the locations didn’t just vanish overnight.
- Nathan’s purchased 29 Wetson’s units
- Those locations were used to launch a smaller concept called Nathan’s Junior’s
- These were limited-menu stores, some franchised and some company-owned
Within a few years, the Wetson’s name was gone, even if the buildings were still being used in new ways.
It Was Big Enough for National Attention
At one point, Wetson’s wasn’t just a local story.
- The chain was featured in The New York Times in 1972
- The article highlighted how young the founders were when they launched the business
That kind of coverage shows how much potential people saw in it at the time.
A Piece of Long Island That Slipped Away
Wetson’s didn’t survive the fast food wars, but it left behind something more interesting than just nostalgia.
It proved that Long Island wasn’t just a place where trends arrived. For a moment, it was a place where they started.
And if you’ve ever passed an older commercial strip and wondered what used to be there, there’s a chance Wetson’s was part of that story.
Photo: Unknown.
