In 1919, after World War I, Roy Allen started selling root beer at a stand in Lodi, California. The business was successful, and he partnered with Frank Wright to form A&W. The company began franchising in 1925, becoming the first restaurant chain in the US to do so. By the 1940s, there were over 400 A&W locations.
Although the original Lodi stand is no longer standing, the A&W Restaurant at 216 E Lodi Ave is a historic spot filled with root beer memorabilia. For those interested in the birthplace of A&W, a plaque on W Pine Street in Lodi marks the spot where the first mug of root beer was served.
Currently, A&W is owned by multiple entities. The brand is licensed by Keurig Dr. Pepper, who then licenses it to the restaurant chain. The National A&W Franchisee Association owns the restaurant chain, which boasts around 1,000 locations worldwide. In Canada, A&W restaurants operate independently from the US stores and are owned by A&W Food Services of Canada.
If you’re craving some A&W goodness, you can find their products on store shelves bottled and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company. In the Sacramento area alone, there are 18 A&W restaurant locations, with 11 of them located in Sacramento County. So whether you’re in San Joaquin County or Placer County, you’re never too far from a frosty mug of A&W Root Beer. Cheers to over a century of this iconic soft drink brand and restaurant chain!