Skyway Drive-In, the family-run burger stand that opened in Fairlawn in 1952, has officially called it a day after 74 years of service. Staff and longtime regulars crowded in for the final weekend, with employees handing out leftover orders as the owners prepared to retire. The property is now slated to be redeveloped as a drive-thru coffee shop, taking a bit of West Market Street’s old-school flavor with it.
Last Of A Family Chain Bows Out
Owner Steve Large confirmed the closure in a public statement, calling Skyway “more than a restaurant” as his family prepared to step away, according to Cleveland Scene. The outlet also highlighted the restaurant’s signature double-decker Sky-Hi and other classic favorites that kept generations of customers rolling in.
Final Rush, Empty Kitchen
The Fairlawn location ran out of food and shut its doors on July 11 after a hectic final shift, with staff handing out the last meals to customers, as reported by the Akron Beacon Journal. That reporting notes that the city’s July 9 Planning Commission agenda included items related to a Dutch Bros proposal for the site, and that the existing building is expected to be demolished to make room for a drive-thru coffee operation.
Built By A Local Family, Known For The Sky-Hi
Skyway traces its roots to founders Ross Large and Ruth Schaff and kept traditional carhop curb service long after most competitors modernized, according to Skyway Restaurants. The combination of drive-in rituals and a menu that included hand-cut onion rings and the Sky-Hi sandwich turned the spot into a multigenerational habit. The Fairlawn location is listed as 2781 West Market Street on the restaurant’s contact page, per Skyway Restaurants.
National Coffee Chain Steps In
Plans to replace the Skyway lot with a Dutch Bros drive-thru fit into a broader trend of national chains moving into suburban stretches that once leaned heavily on family businesses. Dutch Bros has been expanding quickly, ending the first quarter of 2026 with roughly 1,177 system locations and guidance for more growth this year, according to Zacks. Local coverage and customers have noted that trading a carhop drive-in for a corporate coffee lane feels like another chip out of the area’s local character, a sentiment reflected in Cleveland Scene.
Memories On The Menu
For Fairlawn diners, the loss is as much emotional as culinary. Regulars told the Akron Beacon Journal that Skyway hosted first dates, Little League celebrations, and birthday traditions, while staff on the final shifts talked about friendships formed during long, frantic services. In their public statement, the owners thanked generations of customers, and the community now waits on formal permits and a construction timeline for the incoming coffee shop as the next chapter for the site gets underway.
