It's arguably one of the most iconic businesses in High River, or in Southern Alberta for that matter.

The Hitchin' Post turns 50 on Friday, August 16.

The burger stand hasn't always been at the same spot though.

In fact it began it's life at on the Southwest corner of Centre Street and Third Avenue where Servus Credit Union now stands.

Owner, Carmen Lamoureux, says her Dad Robert Jones, who founded the Hitchin' Post, didn't have much competition back then, or at least until the 7-11 was built in the late 1970's.

"I know when 7-11 came to town he (my dad) was a little afraid of them. Because, you know, they had subs and stuff. He was a little afraid of that because that was the only thing around when 7-11 came."

This is how most people see Carmen Lamoureux as she's often at the window at the Hitchin' Post taking orders.

She says over the years as other fast food chains opened up in town, particularly with the McDonalds back in the mid-90's, they were concerned they'd see their business drop.

But she says with each new addition, business didn't slow down as people keep coming in droves to the Hitchin' Post.

She says they saw some slight dips and people went to try out the "newest thing," but nothing that ever lasted more than a few days.

She says as the town started to grow her Mom, Maria and her Dad, decided to change the location

So, led by Oliver Perry, her folks moved the whole building to it's current location on 12th Avenue and Centre Street around 1979 and have been there ever since.

Lamoureux says the menu's gone through a couple of changes over the years, but mostly in the addition of more and more milkshakes.

Lamoureux, says overall the menu hasn't changed a lot since her Mom and Dad, first opened in 1969.

"Uh, not really. I added a few things here and there and of course we're always trying to find new flavours of milk shakes and stuff. We've got lots of different kinds. I still mix the hamburger every morning. I get it fresh from Foothills Meats and pound it out by hand."

She says when it comes to burgers her big sellers are still the HP and Mushroom Burgers.

She says you can customize the burger with different toppings and add as many patty's as you want.

Lamoureux says she made one recently for a customer with four Patty's, cheese and all the fixin's, "I couldn't figure out how he got his mouth around it, it was so big" she said.

One of the things that makes the Hitchin' Post different says Lamoureux is the fact they have nothing pre-cooked. "It's all fresh and made to order, when you order it. That's why it takes longer than the fast food chains."

The plaque on the bench that sits out front of the Hitchin' Post is a memorial to Lamoureux's parents, Robert and Maria Jones who started the business back in the 1960's and moved it to it's current location about 10 years later. Robert passed away in 2007, while Maria passed away in 2016 at the age of 78.

She says at least once a week she's approached by someone offering to buy the businesses, or asking if she'd be interested in franchising it.

She says she just smiles and says "No," adding she has no plans to stop running the business and hopes when she is ready to move on her kids will take it over.

Lamoureux says they'll celebrate with their customers Friday with some birthday cake flavoured milkshakes and give away some gift cards.

 

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