Root Beer Stand to be revived

The Lima Avenue Root Beer Stand will reopen in May with a new owner, Stanley Miller, owner of Miller's Meats, BBQ & Catering. It will become "Miller's Root Beer & BBQ Stand," said Miller, who took over the Miller's Meats, on Trenton Avenue, from his uncle, Jeff Miller, about three years ago. He plans to continue the old Root Beer Stand Spanish dogs and other fare but also add barbecue foods he offers at the Trenton Avenue store. Miller is buying the Root Beer Stand from Bud and Terri Ramm, who owned the business for over 20 years. Terri Ramm retired about two years ago, allowing other family members to operate the business. But the pandemic and worker shortage forced them to close the business by mid-2021. Miller is excited about giving the Root Beer Stand new life. "I have history in it because my mother retired from Cooper (Tire & Rubber Co., across the street from the Root Beer Stand)," Miller said. "I can remember going there as a child from years back. You're talking 30-plus years ago, so there's a lot of history there for me to bring it back." Everything fits together, between Miller's 26 years' experience as a professional chef and the established Miller's Meat Market operations. "The cool part is, I'll be my own supplier, too. All the burgers will be fresh-ground burgers, which not all places do anymore," he said. "Hot dogs, 60% of the (Root Beer Stand) product, I keep here (at the Trenton Avenue location) anyway. So it should be a fairly easy transition." He is confident he will have sufficient staffing. Some Miller's Meat Market employees and former Root Beer Stand workers have expressed interest in staffing the new business. In addition, summer will bring students on break looking for work, he said.