Gary Olson started with Sandy's four decades ago, became a manager with Sandy's, is now a district manager for Hardees and is a welcomed contributer to this site, providing a history of Sandy's Minnesota locations!
Mr. Olson remember the following; I was hired by Ken Miyamoto in St. Cloud as an employee earning my way through college for $1 per hour. A couple of years later he left to open his own Sandy’s in Dinkytown on the campus of the University of Minnesota. He was replaced by Allen Freed who Sandy’s later moved to Elmhurst, near Chicago. Allen was replaced by Ray Voit.
We were still Sandy’s when Ray left and partnered with Ken and Glen Andris, and Jack Conant to open the Sandy’s in Alexandria MN, and Fergus Falls, MN. That is when I became manager. Later I was promoted to District manager and was replaced by Pete Gohman. By then it was a Hardee’s.
It was during my time as manager that St. Cloud Sandy’s converted to Hardee’s.
There was also a Sandy’s in Brainerd MN, opened by Gordy Michschl as manager. Gordy later left that location to open a store in Wilmar MN with Ray Voit, but I do not remember if that opened as a Hardee’s or Sandy’s. There was also a Sandy’s in Bemidji MN run by John Tiggastaad.
05/12/2010 ...
Hello -
My first job in high school was at Sandy 's here in St Cloud MN in 1968. It changed to a Hardee's a couple years later. I went on to work for Hardee's for about 20 years as a Manager and District Manager in MN , IA and IL.
I still have my original Sandy 's uniform from those days - Smock - Tunick and Name tag. (see photos below)
Before we ever had a Mc Donald's here there was a Henry's and a McCarthy's restaurant. (fast food - burger & fries) Have you ever heard of them?
Lot's of great memories from those days.
Dick W.
If you have any memorabilia, pictures or stories of Sandy's in St. Cloud Minnesota or elsewhere, please email me!
