SWEZEY'S
HAMBURGER SHOP
We Serve Memories
You really need to include the relish. It was made on site--I know because I made it in the fifties. Would love to share how it was made.
Karol White
World's best hamburgers and charming building in a terrific town!
Cherokee Charley
Thank you for restoring this beloved building full of great Cherokee memories.
Cherie Holton
Wow! Can't wait to have those burgers again! What a wonderful and charming memory and future for Swezey's to be brought back to life.
Brenda Beck
History
Swezey's started in 1933 and operated through 1969 when it was sold and operated as a hamburger shop until 1990. A listing of the change in ownership follows:
1933 - Swezey's Hamburger Shop
1969 - Wede's Hamburger Shop
1977 - Ace's Hamburger Shop
1982 - Gordy's Hamburger Shop
1989 - Vaughn's Hamburger Shop
1990 - The Hamburger Shop
1990 - Dan's Electronics
2000 - Nelson's Sharpening Shop & Knits N More
2016 - Pampered Pets
2025 - Swezey's Hamburger
Swezey's used the "tank" method to cook the hamburgers, which were small in size; most customers purchased them by the bag. Homemade pies were part of the charm and limited menu.
Customers were loyal to this special place for the unique flavor found nowhere else, and the charm of the small building.
Past pricing:
1934 - 1941 5 cents
1942 - 1950 10 cents
1951 - 1962 12 cents
1963 - 1968 15 cents
1969 - 1970 18 cents
1971 - 1975 35 cents
1976 - 1978 54 cents
1979 - 1980 60 cents
1981 - 1990 80 cents
2025 Charitable donation only
The building was renovated several times over the years. It has been totally stripped back to the bare walls restored back to the original condition of the 1950's-1960's, subject to current building codes. The menu is exactly as it was then.
Wayne and Leta Swezey
Shelby Kneen
Primary Cook
Helen Brenneman and Ruby Kneen
Early Swezey Employees
Open to the Public Charitable Events
ALL proceeds go to the non-profit listed. Donations only.
No events scheduled currently
Swezey Charitable Coalition
All non profit organizations are eligible to use Swezey's for fundraisers.
In addition, the Coalition is looking for volunteers to assist non-profits put on their events. The volunteers will be trained at periodic training events at Swezey's for cooks and behind the counter positions. Assisting with the events is a whole lot of fun and a great way to meet new friends and share memories.
If you would like to become a member of the Coalition and use Swezey's, or become a volunteer, please call 828-258-9616.
Menu
1. MEMORIES
2. HAMBURGERS
3. CHIPS
4. PIES
5. SHAKES-MALTS
6. COFFEE
7. POP
8. CONDIMENTS-PICKLES, KETCHUP, MUSTARD, ONIONS
9. SWEZEY'S ORIGINAL RELISH
COMMENTS, Please leave your Swezey's memories
COMMENT SECTION
My sister was born in 1969, and I remember stopping for hamburgers on the way home from the hospital.
Karla Musick
Best burgers ever! I wish it were again. Otherwise, a 3-hour drive to Brookings, SD, to Nick's is a rare treat but well worth it.
Mary Morris
First stop every summer when we visited from Arizona! Looking forward to next visit.
Lori Jenness Sturgeon
My parents, my brother, and I would go to Swezey's every Sunday after Sunday school and church. Mr. Swezey would see Dad pull into the parking space, and he would throw a burger in the grease to cook for my mom. She would eat hard-as-rock burgers. Helen, the waitress, would save mom a piece of homemade pie. I always had one burger with dill relish (homemade) on it and chocolate milk. I liked to sit by the counter that flipped up for the help to come and go when needed. I can still hear the old screen door slam when customers would come and go . Helen and Arlene Brown were the best waitresses. Ralph Brown would come in dressed in a black suit and Mr. Swezey would hand him a bag of burgers and away he went back to work at Boothbys Funeral Home. As our family ate, more and more people and families came into the shop to eat. Every Sunday was a busy day. After I got married , my husband and I would bring our kids in to treat them to the best burgers in town. They still speak of them today. My hope is the shop will open so many generations to come can experience take same delicious burgers we were raised on.
Marylyce Gustafson Wenck
So many memories to list. Dad would go get a sack of hamburgers. Then we would each get at least 2 when he would get home. Also, when we would go to a Saturday movie, I would save enough to get several afterwards.
Kent George
Dad owned the gas station by Speilmans and Friday nights he would bring a bag full of the most delicious burgers. Loved the mustard relish...now he was a great griller, but I admit he liked Swezeys too! Great memories early 60's.
Vicky Swanson
Our preferred spot when I was a kid was to sit right by the grill so we could look out the window while watching and smelling the burgers sizzle. Even as small as I was, I could pound a lot of those bad boys down in one sitting.
Chuck Groves
My mom, Mary Ludwig, worked at Sweezy’s in the early 60’s. When I was around 4 years old, I remember going to work with mom and sitting under the counter with my paper dolls and coloring books. We would take a big bag of burgers home for the other kids. I would ‘help’ sweep the floor and wipe down the stools. So fun!
Kathy Scruggs
When I was a little girl, I received 35 cents a week allowance. I had a choice of saving it for Christmas gifts, going to a movie, or a special treat, a Swezey burger and a chocolate milk. My favorite part was the anticipation of watching the man in the window making those delicious burgers. Oh, the memories of my hometown!
LuAnne Lizotte
I remember going there after church when I was little, and sitting on the stools, or waiting for one, and getting a burger and piece of pie. Thank you for bringing Swezey's back.
Cyndy Nystedt Poulson
Excited to see the old Swezey’s restored to the original. Brings back great memories!
Steve Goodburn
Was a special treat to go to Sweezy’s when we were growing up!
Mary Pigott
Cindy Rae-Selfridge
Memories from the mid 50's sitting at counter waiting for hamburger and enjoying a orangeade with a straw. Also looking into window watching the burgers getting smashed down to fry. What a treat and what a taste.
Karen Koopman
Mid fifties... seventh grade...I would tell my mom I didn't like the hot lunch menu at Wilson Jr High... she'd give me a buck and I'd head to Swezey's for a couple burgers and malt for lunch. Ketchup, no pickles.
Carolyn Hirsch
I worked at my Dad’s shoe store on Main Street during my high school summers. We regularly walked the two blocks to Sweezy’s for burgers for lunch. Often we had to wait for service, lined up against the wall, for a stool to open up, but it was worth it.
Sue Lorenzen
I went to Cherokee on occasion as a kid, and distinctly remember the awesome smell of burgers cooking, filling the air outside .
Phyllis (Cochrane) Brown
It was a great place to eat when I was little, always had to have hamburgers to eat on the way home. When working in Cherokee, it was a great place to eat and great food.
May Shell
I so miss the Swezey burger! I remember when my friends and I would spend our allowance money and fill ourselves with burgers and soda. We would have a really great time. Oh, the good ole days!
Diana Kessler
I ate there almost every day when I worked in the J. C. Penney office. Would go there for my afternoon break, too. Delicious burgers and the pies were scrumptious!
Glenda (Cline) Heithus
My sister worked there after school and on weekends. Norma loved working there with Shelby and Helen. After the movie and a date, we would go there for the best burgers ever.
Steve Leavitt
So many great memories of delicious food after a Saturday night movie. The grill in the front window and tender sweet buns. Thank you for bringing it back.
Dorie Regennitter
My boyfriend took me there after the movies in early 60s. Burgers & pies were so good. So many good memories. I am now 80 years old, and I hope to experience it again soon. Thank you for bringing back memories for this oldie.
Karla Cates
I remember when our parents would take us there when we were little. Put us all in the car and drive from Aurelia, and when we would get there, one of us would have to go in to get the burgers, but we all were too embarrassed to go in because we would have to order like 30 of them for our family of 9. So we all would say I'm not going in, but eventually one of us would end up going in. Fun memories!
Terry Witcombe-Galbraith
When we came back to Cherokee to visit relatives, Swezeys was our go-to place to eat the best hamburgers in town. Lots of wonderful memories and a great spot to be with my family. I'm hoping at some point, when my husband and I make a trip there, I can relive those memories and have that great hamburger again!