Albany burger stand has withstood the test of time

ALBANY - The Regular, the Deluxe, the Tim or the King, whichever Hasty Freez burger you choose, it is sure to satisfy.

There is a reason the humble white shop with the blue roof on Lyon Street in Albany has weathered recessions, competition from national chains, food trends and the like: remarkable consistency at a reasonable price.

Ham and cheese, tuna, chicken strips and hot dogs are all available, among other sandwiches and sides.

The fries are best piping hot and go nicely with a cool vanilla shake or icy cherry Slush.

The customer receives the meal that was ordered, prepared the same way it was last time, relatively quickly and without any frills. Never has a greasy white paper sack been so appealing.

Owner Tony Pope said no specific item is most popular, "it just depends on the day."

There are 16 ice cream flavors, not including combos - Oreo/peppermint and marshmallow/butterscotch are popular pairings.

The shop opened in Albany in 1952 under the name Tastee Freez. The Tastee Freez franchise asked the original owner to discontinue use of the name so he changed it to Hasty Freez.

The Pope family has run the drive-through and walk-up burger and ice cream stand since 1969.

Currently, it employs 16 part-time workers.

Tony Pope said he enjoys watching families - sometimes four generations - coming in together.

"If you grew up in Albany in the 1950s, you knew about Hasty Freez," he said. "Now those people bring in their great-grandkids."

At Hasty Freez, the food is salty, oily and always delicious, the ice cream sweet, and the prices can't be beat.

CHECK IT OUT

CUISINE: American.

WHERE: 655 Lyon St. S., Albany.

HOURS: 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

PHONE: 926-2144.

WEB SITE: N/A. "We're old school," says owner Tony Pope.

SPECIALTIES: Hasty Freez is primarily a hamburger and ice cream joint, but their $3 BLT is the best in town.

PRICE RANGE: $1.20 to $6.30.

PAYMENT OPTIONS: cash, check, Mastercard, Visa and debit.

VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY: Not really - grilled cheese is the only option.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Take out; drive-thru; wheelchair accessible; group friendly. No WiFi; no alcohol options: no TVs; no seating; no reservations; no delivery; and no catering.

LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT: Yes.