AKRON, Ohio — It’s back!
The original cheese has returned to Swensons, bringing a change many fans have been calling for ever since the iconic Akron chain swapped out their slices a few years back.
“Swensons has always been committed to listening to our guests, and never compromising on quality,” said Jeff Flowers, Swensons Drive-In CEO. “Throughout the last few years, we made several changes to our products to improve food consistency, or as a direct result of the worldwide supply chain challenges created by the pandemic. All these changes were made in an effort to maintain the highest quality standards and deliver an exceptional food experience, even during the toughest of times.”
Those changes included the cheese.
“Over the past year, we listened to our guests and recognized we simply weren’t delivering what they wanted, and we needed to return to our pre-pandemic standards,” Flowers continued in a press release provided to 3News. “Our hometown community made it clear that part of the magic of Swensons is rooted in the unique flavor combination of our original products, especially our cheese. So, we figured out how to bring it all back! And we can’t wait for everyone to come back and try it again!”
Flowers tells 3News the original cheese has actually been back in Akron since the end of last November and returned to all Cleveland-area stands earlier this month.
“The challenge was rooted in the production process,” Flowers said of the cheese. “Our original cheese must be hand-sliced, hand-packaged, boxed and delivered. It’s a very manual process that sometimes led to inconsistency. These challenges were compounded by the various supply chain and labor shortage impacts of the pandemic. We just waited too long after the pandemic to return to our roots.”
The push to bring back the original cheese at Swensons even sparked a Change.org petition in November of 2022, which brought 655 signatures. Comments also frequently popped up on Swensons' social media with many expressing their disappointment about the cheese change.
In addition to the cheese, Swensons also announced the return of their original butter and ketchup.
“Guests were telling us the changes we made weren’t delivering that joy, and we listened,” Flowers added. “We are humbled at how much our guests care about this company, and we are truly excited to return to the products they love. The Curb Servers have their shoes laced up and ready to sprint around the parking lots to take orders.”
2024 marks the 90th year for Swensons.
"The Swensons’ journey began in 1934 when Wesley T. 'Pop' Swenson started selling fresh-ground burgers to his Akron neighbors out of the back of his family station wagon," the company explains on their site. "The operation soon moved to a single hamburger stand, where it embraced the classic American drive-in model. 87 years later, the Swensons experience remains largely unchanged."
Swensons has also been a local favorite of Akron native LeBron James.
"I get a double cheeseburger and onion rings," James previously revealed during an interview at the I PROMISE School in Akron back in 2019. "And then I get a banana milkshake with real ice cream. I have a nice little feast."
Best known for its Galley Boy -- a double cheeseburger smothered in two homemade sauces and topped with a green olive -- Swensons has been ranked throughout the years among the best burger spots in America.