Happy Chef

[Padre]

There is a statue of a chimney sweep on I 35 going towards Wichita, I read it had blown down recently in a windstorm. In reading comments about it, someone said it was a converted Happy Chef mascot.

That led me to look up Happy Chef. Apparently at one time there were several in the Omaha and Lincoln areas. This would have been before I got here, any of you remember it?

This is still one left, in Minnesota.

[almighty_tuna]

Ah yes, we drive by it in Mankato every time we visit Minneapolis.

[nebugeater]

I remember Happy Chef in Lincoln but not Omaha. Not saying at all that they were not here.

[Padre]

I remember Happy Chef in Lincoln but not Omaha. Not saying at all that they were not here.

I saw a menu on eBay of all places, that listed one at the junction of I 80 and highway 370. It also said they were in Greenwood, Fremont, Columbus, and Missouri Valley, as well as the one in Lincoln.

[damonhynes]

I saw a menu on eBay of all places, that listed one at the junction of I 80 and highway 370.

It was where the QT is now. There was also a Standard service station (service station, not a C-store!) next door. Both buildings had been repurposed for light industry/small business for years before QT moved in.

[Brad]

I saw a menu on eBay of all places, that listed one at the junction of I 80 and highway 370.

It was where the QT is now. There was also a Standard service station (service station, not a C-store!) next door. Both buildings had been repurposed for light industry/small business for years before QT moved in.

Its been a long time, but it was here, correct?

Screenshot 2025-11-20 134056.jpg

[Greg S]

Was there also one at the Greenwood Exit on 80 between Omaha and Lincoln?

[damonhynes]

Its been a long time, but it was here, correct?
Screenshot 2025-11-20 134056.jpg

That's it! To the west, across the frontage road, was another service station. I first remember it being a DX (wow), then a 66 before it was Sherwin Williamsed.

[damonhynes]

Was there also one at the Greenwood Exit on 80 between Omaha and Lincoln?

There was, but for the life of me I can't remember which corner. Most likely, the NE corner where the Cenex truck stop is, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[nativeomahan]

I recall the one just off of I-29 at the Missouri Valley exit. I remember it because one Labor Day weekend waaaaaay back in time my family decided to go on one of those Sunday Drives that people used to go on and our car got a flat tire at that exit, and we spent quite a long time in the Happy Chef parking lot waiting for AAA to come out and save the day.

[Greg S]

Was there also one at the Greenwood Exit on 80 between Omaha and Lincoln?

There was, but for the life of me I can't remember which corner. Most likely, the NE corner where the Cenex truck stop is, but I wouldn't bet on it.

I had it on the southeast side over by where I think the Shell station is, but was also thought of the northeast side as well.

Regardless thanks for confirming there was one at this stop. When I was little my Dad used to take me to Morrill Hall in Lincoln and I have vague memories of this exit and stopping for burgers and shakes.

Greg

[nebugeater]

Who would have guessed this thread would have more than a couple of posts!

[almighty_tuna]

Wasn't the one in Lincoln on N 48th street next to Cool Crest? Straining the memory here...

[advcomp2019]

I knew the owners of the Happy Chef's that was in Missouri Valley, Onawa, Blair, and Sergeant Bluffs. Even my grandma and dad work at the Onawa one when it was Oehler's Brothers. The Happy Chef's head is in the hills near Turin. I heard the wind blew the head down the hill again. It does not have body.

I do know the one brother passed away, but I am not sure where the other brother went to.

I like how Cubby's redid the old Happy Chef in Onawa. The tower used to be the bathrooms, and now you enter the building there.

[OmahaRedWing]

As a kid I always confused Happy Chef with JB's Big Boy. Not sure why.

[OmahaOmaha]

The Happy Chef statues had a button that you pushed and the chef would tell really corny jokes. They had Clean Plate Club where kids who cleaned their plate got a free Pudding Pop. I also remember them giving kids a Happy Chef puppet, which was basically a picture of the chef on a plastic bag.

[advcomp2019]

I knew the owners of the Happy Chef's that was in Missouri Valley, Onawa, Blair, and Sergeant Bluffs. Even my grandma and dad work at the Onawa one when it was Oehler's Brothers. The Happy Chef's head is in the hills near Turin. I heard the wind blew the head down the hill again. It does not have body.

I do know the one brother passed away, but I am not sure where the other brother went to.

I like how Cubby's redid the old Happy Chef in Onawa. The tower used to be the bathrooms, and now you enter the building there.

I found the other brother passed away in 2022.