You can’t run, but you can hide Papa Burger in Oceanside

Since 1977, many Oceanside residents have passed by the Angelo’s Burgers at the south end of town, on Coast Highway. One can’t miss the statue of a big man holding a big hamburger. Most people probably think it’s a repainted version of Bob’s Big Boy — it’s not.

His actual name is Angelo Man (obviously, because he’s wearing the Angelo’s uniformed shirt), but older fans of fast-food chains may recognize Angelo Man as Papa Burger from the former A&W Drive–Ins.

According to photo essays on the roadside attraction website RoadArch.com, Angelo’s may have the last standing statue of a member of the Burger Family A&W characters in Southern California. Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and Baby Burger represented the different-sized burgers offered.

In 1977, when Angelo’s owner Tony Regakis opened his first restaurant at the old A&W site, he purchased the Papa Burger statue from Oceanside’s other A&W location (not a drive-in), at the corner of Coast Highway and Mission Avenue.

“I paid $100 for him,” said Regakis, who owns four Angelo’s (three in Oceanside and one in Encinitas).

“People stop to take pictures in front of him all the time,” said Regakis. Has anyone every tried to steal Papa? “No. They can’t. There is a metal pipe inside, from the ground to the top of his head. Nobody could move it.”

Papa was moved once, when Regakis remodeled years ago. Papa was on the roof, and the City of Oceanside supported Regakis in lowering the statue to restaurant level.

The Burger Family mascots were introduced in 1963 by the then-2000-strong A&W chain (larger than McDonald’s at the time). Canadian A&W’s also included a Grandpa Burger, which was never introduced in the U.S.

A Papa Burger consisted of a sesame seed bun with two, 1/8-pound beef patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and A&W's proprietary sauce (a Thousand Island–type dressing, like Jack in the Box’s “Secret Sauce” and In-N-Out’s “spread”).

By the mid-1970s, the Burger Family was replaced by Rooty, the Great American Root Bear, to coincide with the chain’s new slogan, “Great American Food.” The corny statues began to disappear — sold off, stolen, or demolished.

A&W began marketing cans and bottles of its root beer line in grocery stores, eventually causing the abandonment of the franchised restaurant business. It also brought an end to the carhops that hung one’s food tray off a partially opened window (as Sonic Burger does today).

From 2002 to 2011, A&W’s then-owner, Yum! Brands, usually co-branded new A&W’s with its other chains — Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, or Kentucky Fried Chicken. Six ownership changes since 1982 have yet to bring back the carhops, frosty glass mugs, and the Burger Family.

Has Regakis ever thought about selling his Papa Burger? “I wouldn’t even take $100,000 for it,” he said.