Pea Soup Andersen's facts for kids
Old postcard advertising the Buellton restaurant
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| Industry | Restaurant |
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| Founded | Buellton, California (1924) |
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Number of locations
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2 |
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Area served
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Pea Soup Andersen's is a famous restaurant chain in California. It is known for serving delicious meals, especially its split pea soup, to people traveling across the state. There are two main locations, both found along California's biggest highways. You can find one restaurant on U.S. Route 101 in Buellton. The other is on Interstate 5 in Santa Nella.
Both restaurants offer full, home-style meals. They also have a bakery where you can buy fresh treats and a gift shop with souvenirs. Each location even has a hotel nearby, making them a perfect stop for travelers. The company also sells its famous pea soup in cans, so you can enjoy it at home!
Contents
The Start of Pea Soup Andersen's
How a Famous Restaurant Began
The first Andersen's restaurant opened its doors in 1924. It was started by a couple named Anton and Juliette Andersen. Anton was from Denmark and learned about the restaurant business in Europe and New York City. Juliette was from France.
They bought some land in a small town called Buellton, California. This town, along with nearby Solvang, was a popular place for people from Denmark to settle. The Andersens opened a small restaurant and called it "Andersen's Electrical Cafe." They were very proud of their new electric stove, which was quite special back then!
From Simple Meals to Famous Soup
When the restaurant first opened, they served simple foods. These included sandwiches, pancakes, and coffee. Most of their customers were people driving on the main highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This road is now known as U.S. Highway 101. Salespeople, tourists, and truck drivers often stopped there.
After just three months, Juliette added her family's special pea soup recipe to the menu. People soon started to know the restaurant for its great food. But it was Juliette's delicious pea soup that became the biggest reason people stopped by.
Becoming a Roadside Stop
In 1928, the Andersens made their cafe even bigger. They added a hotel and a larger dining room. These changes helped Pea Soup Andersen's become more than just a restaurant. It became a popular "roadside attraction." Since Buellton was right on Highway 101, it was a super easy and convenient place for travelers to stop. This was especially true for those driving between the Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Growing the Business and Fun Mascots
"Pea Soup Andersen" and Billboards
In the 1930s, Anton and Juliette's son, Robert, joined the family business. He had just finished college at Stanford University. Robert gave himself the nickname "Pea Soup Andersen." This nickname became the official name of the restaurant and business in 1947.
Robert had a great idea to put up billboards all over California. These signs helped travelers know where to find the famous restaurant. He also found a funny cartoon called "Little Known Occupations." This cartoon showed silly chefs splitting peas with a hammer and chisel. Robert turned these characters into the restaurant's mascots, calling them "Hap-pea" and "Pea-wee."
TV Commercials and New Owners
In the early 1950s, a talented animator named Art Clokey made commercials for Pea Soup Andersen's. Art Clokey later became famous for creating the claymation character Gumby.
In 1965, the Andersen family sold the restaurant to Vince Evans. He added some fun things to the property, like a miniature train and a small bird park. However, these were later removed in 1970 to build a motel with a Danish theme.
Expanding to New Locations
In 1976, the company opened a second restaurant. This new location was in Santa Nella, California, near Interstate 5. This property was also a big stop for travelers. It included a restaurant, gift shop, hotel, and even a gas station, all under the Andersen's name. A special part of this location was a working windmill. It was attached to the restaurant and could be seen from the highway. This windmill became a symbol for the company.
Over the years, the restaurants have had different owners. Today, the two main locations in Buellton and Santa Nella are owned by Milt Guggia. He is a restaurant owner from the Central Coast of California.
Pea Soup and More
The Famous Traveller's Special
For all the years Pea Soup Andersen's has been open, they have offered an amazing deal. You can get all-you-can-eat pea soup! This special meal is now called the "Traveller's Special." It's a favorite for many visitors.
In 2012, it was reported that the restaurant sold a huge amount of pea soup every day. They sold about 500 to 600 US gallons (which is about 1,900 to 2,300 liters) of pea soup in just one day! That's a lot of soup!
Where to Find Pea Soup Andersen's
| City | Street address | Nearest highways |
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| Buellton, California | 376 Avenue of the Flags | US 101 and State Route 246 |
| Santa Nella, California | 12411 South Hwy 33 | I-5 and State Route 33 |
