Ann's Drive-In
Ann's Drive-In was a popular grocery store-diner, owned and operated by Ann Schubert Jones Townsend.
Ann was born In Hartford, Connecticut, and, as a young girl, developed a fine voice which later led to a brief stint with the Chicago Opera Company. Later, she worked as a buyer for several Chicago department stores, before moving to Los Angeles In 1934, then to San Francisco, where she met and married her first husband, Harold Jones. She came to the Coastside In 1949, first to Miramar where she operated a combination eatery-grocery store, then to Edgemar in 1955 where she took over Wilma's restaurant.She operated the store from 1952-1957 when it was located in the Edgemar District. But like many other businesses at the time, Ann's Drive-In was forced to move when construction began on the Edgemar Freeway in 1955. The drive-in was relocated to 1966 Francisco Blvd (at San Jose Ave), Sharp Park, where the drive-in had much success for over a decade.
In 1952, Ann started serving school lunches to elementary school students at Pacific Manor school. In 1954, when Ann's was still in Edgemar, Frank Lee Meats first opened within her store and eventually Frank Lee Meats was re-named Save More Meats when it moved to the Pacific Manor District when Ann's Drive-in moved to Sharp Park.
Ann's Drive-In became widely known thousands of Pacificans who found it convenient to drop by her late night eatery for a bottle of beer or pick up sundries from her small grocery stock. Many more thousands of motorists also found It convenient, prior to the construction of the Coast freeway, to stop for odds and ends at the drive-in.
IN LATER years, Ann still managed the combination drive-in and grocery shop from early morning until late night. Although her pace had slowed the moved her stout figure gracefully to serve her customers at the checkout counter, often peering closely with her pIncemez as she made change from bills, her eyesight having failed somewhat In recent years. Although of gentle disposition, she presided over the drive-in In firm fashion, with never any question as to who was running the show. Its late night hours being attractive to night owls and transients, the drive•n was the scene of frequent brawls, minor disputes and armed robberies.
Another hazard was George Townsend, Ann's second husband, who frequently became obnoxious while under the influence and, on at least two occasions, became belligerent with a hunting knife, stabbing Ann in the chest, and again when he stabbed an employee.
During her 14 years in Sharp Park she became known as a "soft touch" by transients and "down on their luck" Sharp Parkers, for a free meal, a small loan, or some groceries on the cuff. "She was big hearted; she always tried to help people out," remembers one of the drive-In patrons.
Ann Schubert Jones Townsend's body was found on the kitchen floor of the drive-in around 10 A.M. on June 11, 1969, by Marie Goodpasture, a longtime employee, when she arrived for work. Ann was 68.