I remembered there was a proposed Jack-in-the-Box at the southwest corner of Skinker and Delmar. Check out the very first issue of the Times of Skinker DeBaliviere in April 1970. Things have changed, I guess. Where did we lose our way?
https://sdtimes.org/Issues/SD_Times1970_04.pdf
Controversy over the planned construction of the Jack-in-the-Box drive-in restaurant at the corner of Skinker and Delmar continues. Private citizens, agents of the Pa rkview and Rosedale-Skinker Associations and representatives of a Washington University student group, "Stop Jack-in-the-Box," are protesting the location of the drive-in and are negotiating with Foodmaker, Inc., operators of the Jack-in-the-Box chain.
Citizens have objected to intrusion of a drive-in food operation in a residential neighborhood. They strongly oppose ' the attraction of transients, the noise, litter, and additional traffic at a busy intersection.
They charge that the garish and unsightly construction would harm the entire area at a time when residents are struggling to maintain stability.
Spokesmen for Foodmaker, Inc. have replied that the lots are zoned commercial and open to construction of a drive-in facility. They then further stated that they would be required by the city to provide an access lane along Skinker. They maintain that limited parking and seating space in their restaurants discourage patrons from congregating or causing disturbances.
In the face of repeated objections, Foodmaker, Inc. has assured the community that the building at Skinker and Delmar would be of brick-and-shingle construction.
Meanwhile the Washington University student group, "Stop Jack-in-the-Box," has retained Courtney Goodman, Jr. as their legal counsel. They base their objections on the fact that the buildings now occupying the site are suitable to the neighborhood and house small businesses which draw on a local, walk-in trade.
The students have expressed strong feelings that Jack-in-the-Box construction constitutes visual pollution of the local environment.
Events affecting the proposed construction of the Jack-in-the-Box at Skinker and Delmar have been occurring almost daily. Agents of the various concerned citizens groups appeared at and spoke to a meeting of the St. Louis Aldermanic Legislative Research Committee on February 2.
The committee is considering legislature to set standards and limitations for the rapidly growing number of drive-in operations, including a specific proposal making operators of drive-in food operations legally responsible for litter from their establishment within a 300 yard radius of the site.
A group of residents and students picketed Ralston Purina, the owners of Foodmaker, Inc. recently and were afforded a brief opportunity to talk directly to Ralston Purina officials. The protestors were told that the date for commencement of construction of the Jack-in-the- Box was at the present indefinite.
On March 9, Mr. Don Knoesel, the regional representative of Foodmaker, Inc. addressed a general meeting of the Skinker-Rosedale Association to explain the Jack-in-the-Box story to the community.
A secret ballot of residents attending the meeting showed 61 opposed to the Delmar Skinker Jack-in-the-Box with 4 in favor of it. On March 10, Albert J. O’Brien, the president of Ralston Purina met with both citizens opposing Jack-in-the-Box as well as representatives of Foodmaker, Inc. The meeting, held in the Clayton offices of Courtney Goodman, was arranged by Attorney General John Danforth, whose family owns Ralston Purina.
The citizens proposed that Ralston Purina turn the building at Skinker and Delmar over to a non-profit corporation which would encourage the present occupants to remain and seek additional small businesses that would cater to residents of the neighborhood.
Although Mr. O'Brien observed that the group seemed to have a "bias against anything other than businesses that are completely local," he did nonetheless agree to meet again with the group for dinner and further discussion at the Chinese Restaurant. As The Paper went to press, this meeting had not occurred, but William Leckie, one of the Skinker DeBaliviere area residents who attended the meeting considers it vitally important that Mr. O'Brien come to the community itself to be able to really gage the reasons for the strong resentment against Jack-in-the-Box.
yesterday….
