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1004 La Crosse St | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

1004 La Crosse St

Architecture and History Inventory
1004 La Crosse St | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:RUDY'S DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT
Other Name:
Contributing:
Reference Number:238801
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):1004 La Crosse St
County:La Crosse
City:La Crosse
Township/Village:
Unincorporated Community:
Town:
Range:
Direction:
Section:
Quarter Section:
Quarter/Quarter Section:
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1966
Additions:
Survey Date:20162025
Historic Use:restaurant/supper club
Architectural Style:Neo-Expressionism
Structural System:Steel Frame
Wall Material:Ceramic Tile
Architect:
Other Buildings On Site:
Demolished?:No
Demolished Date:
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name:Not listed
National Register Listing Date:
State Register Listing Date:
NOTES
Additional Information:RUDY'S DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT IS MADE UP OF THE SMALL RESTAURANT/KITCHEN, WITH FLAT ROOF, LARGE PLATE GLASS WINDOWS, AND CERAMIC TILE EXTERIOR, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO A LINEAR AWNING UNDER WHICH CARS CAN PARK AT KIOSKS TO ORDER THEIR FOOD. THE DRIVE-IN, BUILT BY WILLIAM RUDY IN 1996 AS AN A&W ROOT BEER RESTAURANT, THE NAME WAYS CHANGED BY HIS GRANDSON IN 1979, AND IS STILL KNOWN AS RUDY'S, UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE THIRD GENERATION RUDY. 2025; Rudy’s Drive-In Restaurant was constructed in 1966. The one-story midcentury restaurant contains a pair of parallel flat-roofed carport canopies supported by angled mod-styled “boomerang” posts. The northernmost canopy connects to the central dining block. The central dining block has a square footprint with a projecting monochrome brown brick storefront that wraps around both the anterior and rear vestibules. The primary walls are of orange ceramic tiling with rows of railroaded white and burgundy tiles. The metal-paneled, mansard roof design has boxed parapet eaves of moderate overhang. The building is surrounded on four sides by surface parking.
Bibliographic References:LA CROSSE TRIBUNE 8/2/2014
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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