West Duluth Drive-In A&Dubs Set to Reopen Under New Ownership
A & Dubs, the beloved West Duluth drive-in closed since 2024, has been purchased by Mike Koralia and Ryan Spears, who plan a grand reopening this spring.
After sitting idle for two summers, A & Dubs, the seasonal drive-in at 3131 W. Third St. in Duluth's Lincoln Park neighborhood, has new owners and a plan to reopen in 2026. Mike Koralia and Ryan Spears announced the purchase on March 9 via the restaurant's Facebook page, which had gone silent for months before suddenly coming back to life with the news.
The purchase was made "with the help and support of Syl and Sandy" Hantz, according to the announcement. In their first public statement, the new owners pledged continuity: "We're honored to continue the tradition of serving the same great food that A&Dubs has been known for, for over 40 years."
Koralia and Spears are planning a grand re-opening celebration, though no date has been set. Fans are hoping the diner returns in line with its traditional spring schedule, possibly sometime in May.
The closure that preceded the sale began in earnest in April 2024, when Syl and Sandy Hantz posted on Facebook that they would not open that summer. "Health concerns have made the day to day operation of our small mom and pop business not feasible," they wrote. The diner remained closed through 2025 as well. A street-side sign eventually appeared at the property letting passersby know the Hantzes were looking for a new owner to carry on the business's 40-plus year legacy.
The Hantzes had owned A & Dubs since 1978, but the drive-in's history on the 3100 block of West 3rd Street stretches back considerably further. Perfect Duluth Day traces its roots to 1948, when Lloyd and Shirley Tillman opened an A&W restaurant, one of the earliest drive-ins in the city. Fox21 reports the drive-in opened in 1950; the founding year remains a matter of some dispute among sources. What is consistent across accounts is that the restaurant broke from the national A&W chain in the early 1970s and became known as A & Dubs, building its reputation on classic car-side service, homemade root beer, and a menu faithful to its original recipes.
The new owners have not released a specific opening date, but have said an announcement is coming soon.
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