Thurston's

James Robert ‘Bob’ Thurston, Jr. (1937-2016) married Ethel Mae Hilton (1938-2006) in 1956.  Bob was a member of the Masons, Elks, and Moose in Princeton.

Bob opened Thurston’s Drive-In on Courthouse Road. It was on the left going toward Bluefield on the Bluefield Princeton Road. He ran the drive-in from 1961 to 1973.  

In the 1960s when the youth of Princeton and Athens were just coming of age, getting their driver’s licenses and use of a car, Thurston’s was a favorite place to hang out. With a little money in their pockets, everyone could eat well at Thurston’s. They served hot dogs with their own homemade chili. French fries, of course, were on the menu along with the other common foods available at drive-ins in those days. They are remembered most for their hamburgers with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise that were sold 5 for $1.

Music was played from the DJ booth upstairs. The parking lot was a great place to meet with friends or for guys to take their dates on a Saturday night. Teenages enjoyed food with music on their AM radios and dedication of songs from the onsite DJ.

Bob Thurston closed the restaurant and moved on to other pursuits. The building has been razed and all that is left is an eyesore large concrete slab overgrown with weeds as you’re going into Princeton.