Roadside burger joint serves up oldies but goodies

They just don't make 'em like they used to. Or do they?There's a new, little roadside burger joint on Taylor Road, appropriately named "Taylors," that serves up a good, old-fashioned burger and fries, plus handmade shakes to go with them. Locals are flocking there multiple times each week for breakfast, lunch and dinner."Sometimes we're there six or seven times a week. Sometimes we just stop for an ice cream cone," admitted Loomis resident Nancy Beck.Ryan Barnes, who lives in Roseville and commutes down Taylor Road to his Loomis job at Clear Water Compliance Services of California, Inc., claims the breakfast burrito served at Taylors "is awesome" and often drops in for one.Gary Johnson, of Penryn, confessed to stopping at Taylors three or four times a week, his favorite item being the chilidog."It's like the old hamburger stands from when you were a kid," he said in describing Taylors.Longtime Loomis resident Pat Taylor made a dream come true when he converted the old Bean Me Up coffee stop, located next to his Auto-Tec automotive service center, into Taylors, his own signature burger shop that also offers home-baked goods created by his wife, Suzanne Carlon.Carlon worked as a professional baker, and for Taylors, bakes moist scones, chewy brownies, tall muffins and aromatic cinnamon rolls, along with fresh pies that are served up daily. She also happily takes advance orders. Carlon and Taylor operate separate parts of the restaurant. Taylor mans the flat top grill while Carlon works the window and supervises the staff. They also stagger their hours so they can spend time with their daughter.Taylor bounces between his two businesses, working from 12 to 17 hours a day, making sure he scrubs up and wears gloves when he switches from auto repair to burger flipping. While the two careers don't seem to fit, Taylor said he trained as a chef and was a baker for 14 years.Taylor called opening his own burger place "fulfilling a dream." He said he started thinking about it when he was just a kid working summers in his uncle's burger stand in Arkansas.The entrepreneur claims the secret to Taylors' success has been using "the best, quality ingredients" he can find on the market, while keeping his prices economical. He also said he uses no trans fats in cooking his fries and homemade potato chips. Plus, he offers vegetarian hot dogs and burgers.Taylor said the most popular item on his menu is the bacon cheeseburger. Along with soft serve or chocolate dipped ice cream cones, the restaurant offers 25 different types of fresh, individually made malts and shakes. Plus, they make five types of freezes, a blend of vanilla ice cream and flavored sodas. No old-fashioned menu would be complete without the inclusion of sundaes and banana splits, so Taylors also offers those, too.The burger stand is housed in a 1950s building that was moved to its present location in 1960 along what was the old U.S. Route 40. Taylor said the units were mass-produced in the 1950s and '60s by a refrigeration company for the "new," fast-food hamburger stands popping up along roadways.In keeping with its small-town, retro feel, Taylors mostly employees local students from Del Oro High School. Seniors Ben Tatge, Stuart Deason, Monica Petty, Mark Bragg, Nate McCarthy, Jesse Bender and Adam Welch lead the crew. Juniors Kaytee Lambourne and Sarah Sevey, along with sophomores Chelsea Texeria and Lynda Davi, round out the team.Taylor said he's looking to hire more help for summer and is seeking "bright, cheery and energetic" applicants."I just thought we needed a good, quality, old-fashioned ice cream and burger place in town," Taylor said.Judging by the little stand's success, he must be right.A grand opening celebration is coming up from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31, with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m.Taylors is located at 3987 Taylor Road, just past Sierra College Boulevard, in Loomis. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. They can be reached at 652-8255.