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Places, Earth
Pea Soup Andersen's
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Pea Soup Andersen's
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2012.
Pea Soup Andersens began in Buellton in 1924 when Danish born Anton Andersen and his wife Juliette settled there. Buellton began to grow after the highway was diverted through town in 1924, the year that Anton and Juliette Andersen purchased a small parcel of land and building from William Budd and opened a restaurant naming it "Andersen's Electric Cafe. Anton was trained in exclusive restaurants in Europe and New York and he helped open the Los Angeles Biltmore. Juliette was from the east of France and an expert cook. She brought many recipes with her, including her very popular split pea soup. Anton and Juliette began serving simple, wholesome foods to travelers, salesmen, tourists and truck drivers who drove the main highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Customers included visitors to Hearst Castle at San Simeon many of whom spread the word about the restaurant.
In 1928, the Andersen's sank a well and built a hotel and dining room. They named their new establishment the "Bueltmore," a play on words referring to Anton's days with the Biltmore. The Andersens were soon buying a ton of peas at a time to meet the demand for their very popular split pea soup. Anton used the peas as a window display proclaiming the restaurant, "The Home of Split Pea Soup."
When their son Robert returned after graduating from Stanford in the 1930s, he established the billboards which popularized the restaurant even more. A cartoon by the famous cartoonist Forbell in "Judge" magazine was published in the early thirties showing two comic chefs standing at a chopping table, one holding a huge chisel, splitting peas singly as they came down a chute. Andersen obtained permission to use the idea for advertising. "Pea Soup," became the trademark and official name of the family business. In 1941, Robert married Rosemary Mohan and she opened a gift shop which remains today selling a wide variety of items.
The restaurant closed to the public during World War II so that the hotel and restaurant could provide to the needs of servicemen and their families. Robert purchased a small building across the street and converted it to a canteen which was operated by the American Women's Voluntary Services (A.W.V.S.).
After the war, Pea Soup Andersen's reopened and Robert commissioned Disney-trained artist Milt Neil to re-draw the two cartoon chefs for use in promotion and they became Pea Soup Andersen's trademark. A contest was held to name the chefs Hap-pea and Pea-Wee. The highway was rerouted through the center of Buellton in 1947. The name of the restaurant was changed to Pea Soup Andersens and Buellton was nicknamed "The Home of Split Pea Soup."
Robert Andersen sold the Buellton restaurant in April of 1965 to Vince Evans a local resident and businessman. By then the restaurant was using 50 tons of peas each year, enough for three-quarters of a million bowls of soup. He built an aviary, train for children, and a miniature wild animal park. The park was discontinued in 1970 to make way for the addition of a Danish style motel. In 1979, Vice purchased a one hundred year old English Pub that had stood at the Liverpool railway station in London. The Pub was reconstructed in Buellton and opened as a bar and entertainment center. On April 23, 1980, Vince, his wife Margery and their 21 year old daughter, Venetia, were tragically killed in a small plane crash.
In the early 1960's Highway 101 was moved to its present location and the former highway, now named the Avenue of the Flags remains the main street of Buellton.
Once a small chain of restaurants, only two remain. The other is in Santa Nella off Interstate 5.
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This page last updated: Tuesday, 06-Nov-2007 19:45:10 EST
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Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice.
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
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Copyright © 2004 - 2012, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
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This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.
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