Our Story
Clancy's Hamburgers at Bottleworks
Back in the day, when the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant was still turning out America’s favorite soda along Indianapolis’ Mass Avenue, Carl Fogelsong was dreaming of serving up America’s favorite burger in Michigantown, Indiana. Fifty some years later, that dream continues to sizzle today in the new Bottleworks District.
Trying to come up with a symbol that would encompass as many of these qualities as possible, Carl Fogelsong remembered seeing an old comic strip movie with a keystone cop named CLANCY. Clancy was friendly, well-liked and a quality person who represented the American value Fogelsong wanted in his restaurant. While delivering reliable, honest service, day in, day out, the original Clancy was joyful, hospitable fellow, fun to be with and loved in the community he served, Fogelsong acquired the rights to the trademark.
In May 1965, CLANCY THE COP, perched high upon a sign out front, took on a new beat. Together, he and Carl Fogelsong opened the doors of the first Clancy’s in Noblesville, IN and it was a winner right from the start.
100% or Nothing at All
That was the idea when Carl first hatched his plan to launch a new fast food chain in 1965. His vision was simple: quality food at a reasonable price. That meant 100% pure beef. Grade A potatoes. Aged cheddar. And top quality name brands for everything from mustard and ketchup to sesame seed buns and dill pickle chips. From day one, it was all or nothing for Carl Fogelsong.
A Burger Man At Heart
With a solid plan in place, Carl just needed the right symbol to embody the true character of his new restaurant’s spirit. And he found just the right man for the job in Clancy the Cop. Within 15 years Carl opened up 31 new Clancy’s burger joints along the highways and dual lane byways of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Diners who popped in for a famous Clancy burger would often find Carl himself behind the grill, working shoulder to shoulder with the Clancy’s team. After all, he was a burger man at heart.
But his passion for the customer experience also led him to lead and innovate over the years. Things like double-drive-thrus with a 35 seat dining room (a first for the Midwest with a 35 seat dining room, a menu offering real variety (unheard of in the fast food chain business), and a recipe for the “best French Fries in town.” Our commitment to quality ingredients has earned us a lasting reputation. Today, that same commitment to quality and sustainability is alive and well. We’re proud to support local agriculture and craft beverage businesses by sourcing from local farms and vendors across Indiana. Just like Carl dreamed it should be more than fifty years ago, it’s 100% or nothing at all at Clancy’s Bottleworks.
Order Up.