Kenney's

Adil Hassan ‘Eddie’ Najar (1923-2004) and his wife Nabila Madid (1933) immigrated to the United States from Lebanon. He was a member of the American Restaurant Association and a lifetime member of the National Homebuilders Association. He was a World War II Army Veteran.

Eddie Najar was a franchisee owner of Kenney’s Drive-In. He built the Princeton Kenney’s on Oakvale Road near the Athens intersection. The grand opening was on March 3, 1965. It was billed as Princeton’s newest and largest drive-in. When it opened burgers were 15 cents, and cheeseburgers were 20 cents. Milkshakes were 19 cents to 29 cents. A large aluminum tray filled with 18 pieces of chicken, your choice of 2 sides and 12 deep fried biscuits with honey was $5.49. With inflation in 2023, that 15 cent hamburger should cost $1.46.

Bill Kenney (1921-2012) was a franchisee owner of several Biff-Burgers. He severed ties with Biff-Burgers in the 1960’s and started a new chain, Kenney’s.  His buildings had a distinct design with an “A” frame roof and large windows across the front of the building. He also included inside seating, something not common to drive-in restaurants at that time.

Kenney’s was famous for their burgers dipped in Kenney’s sauce. The burgers were broiled, dipped in the sauce and served on a bun. Customers could get a regular burger, sauce only, or a SMO (sauce, mustard and onion). A DK was also available: 2 burger patties on 3 buns . Or a SK, with Swiss cheese. In addition to the Biff-Burgers style burger, Bill Kenney added his famous fried chicken, deep fried biscuits and packets of honey to spread on the biscuits. All the regular sides were available to go along with the chicken. 

At its peak there were 28 Kenney’s Drive-Ins in Virginia and West Virginia. By 2023 all had closed except a privately owned one in Lexington, Virginia.

After the drive-ins closed Bill Kenney started bottling his sauce to sell. While shopping at Kroger one day the author had the privilege of meeting Mr. Kenney. He was there giving away jars of his sauce to promote the start of them being sold at Kroger. He was very happy to chat, talk about Kenney’s Drive-Ins and the famous sauce. He said he decided to bottle his sauce to sell with the profits going to benefit Habitat For Humanity. He later indicated to a reporter for the Roanoke Times that he had sold the recipe but did not know if the buyer was going to do anything with it. In 2023 the sauce was being produced and sold at Floyd’s Country Store, Floyd, Virginia.

Bill Kenney died in 2012 at the age of 91.

Kenney’s Drive-In in Princeton closed in the late 1980’s. Since then several businesses, including Crossroads Cars occupied the building. It has now been demolished.