Walli's Drive-In - Burton MI

Address: 4160 W Pierson Rd
City: Burton
State: MI
Zip: 48504
County: Genesee
Number of visits to this page: 4125
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General Information:

I have been researching an old sign on Saginaw and E Humphrey for a time as I have driven by it several times. My digging has led me back to Walli's so I will use this is an opportunity to expand on this small chain. The locations are as follows:

  1. Walli's North (AKA Hilltop Drive-In) (1950) - G-5414 N Saginaw St Flint - Became Hilltop Drive-in, also Burl's Car Hop Cafe, Americana Family Restaurant, and Whistle Stop, not necessarily in that order.
  2. Walli's Supper Club (1961) - G-5432 N Saginaw Flint - Demolished
  3. Walli's West (1964) - 4160 Pierson Rd Burton - Demolished, old sign still stands, was used for now gone BP station.
  4. Walli's Scandia Hall (1969) - G-5415 N Saginaw St Flint - Became Raywoods Memorial Hall - still stands.
  5. Walli's East (1972) - G-1431 S Center Rd - Became Burton Inn, now closed and sitting empty.

First off, the old sign on N Saginaw turned out to be the Walli's North location. This despite the fact the sign frame left behind as of 2025 does not match the shape of the original sign. Street addresses on Saginaw and Dort get confusing because they repeat. However, I found an old ad for Parker Appliance at 5398 N Saginaw and it indicated it was "next to Walli's Drive-In".

The old Parker Appliance building still stands today so that is 1 clue. The other is although 5414 N Saginaw does not exist anymore, it would make sense given the sequence of numbers in that area. Lastly, There was on old photo of the Hilltop Drive-In (which was once Walli's) and it showed the sign next to a fairly unique telephone pole which is still on the lot today. So, even though the top of the sign looks different, I can say that was Walli's North.

That area was "Walli's City" in some sense in that Walli's Supper Club was also right across E Humphrey from Walli's North. Across the street back off the road, there was Walli's Scandia Hall. The building still stands for that and it has Raywoods Memorial Hall on the side.


From MLive (In reference to the Pierson Rd location):

The restaurant opened in 1972 as Walli’s East as part of an expansion by founder Arne Walli.

Walli, who died in May 2014 at 93 years old, opened up the Richardson Rootbeer Stand in Genesee Township in 1950 alongside wife Frances.

A drive-in restaurant was opened in the vicinity in 1958 followed by the purchase of a garage three years later to open their first supper club -- using recipes from Frances -- on the same property as the drive-in. Frances Walli died in June 2005 at 83 years old.

The business expanded in 1964, with the new Walli’s West opening on West Pierson Road in Mt. Morris Township and Walli’s Scandia Hall built in 1969, across from the supper club. When the original supper club was a victim of fire in 1980, Arne built a new version behind Walli’s West.

Walli also had two laundromats and began to offer lodging for travelers to the area, building a hotel in 1976 to go along with the restaurants, along with a second location in 1972 at Walli’s East, where the current restaurant stands on Center Road.

Info Updates:
No Updates Found
 Photos:41
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw - Sign Comparison
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw - Sign Comparison
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw - Jul 13 1975 Article
Wallis North - 5414 N Saginaw - Jul 13 1975 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw
Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw
Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw - 2011 Street View
Wallis Supper Club - 5432 N Saginaw - 2011 Street View
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis Scandia Hall - G-5415 N Saginaw St
Wallis Scandia Hall - G-5415 N Saginaw St
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd - 2022 Street View
Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd - 2022 Street View
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd - 2022 Street View
Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd - 2022 Street View
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis East 2006 - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis East - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis East - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis East - G-1431 S Center Rd
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis West 4160 Pierson Rd - 2011
Wallis West 4160 Pierson Rd - 2011
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis West 4160 Pierson Rd
Wallis West 4160 Pierson Rd
Wallis Drive-In - Wallis Map - 1975 Aerial
Wallis Map - 1975 Aerial
Wallis Drive-In - Jul 13 1975 Article
Jul 13 1975 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Matchbook
Matchbook
Wallis Drive-In - Matchbook
Matchbook
Wallis Drive-In - Matchbook
Matchbook
Wallis Drive-In - Oct 21 1945 Article
Oct 21 1945 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Sep 10 1979 Article
Sep 10 1979 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Mar 29 1964 Article
Mar 29 1964 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Oct 28 1963 Article
Oct 28 1963 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Apr 06 1962 Article
Apr 06 1962 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Apr 25 1979 Article
Apr 25 1979 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Aug 02 1985 Article
Aug 02 1985 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Aug 22 1971 Article
Aug 22 1971 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Dec 14 1984 Article
Dec 14 1984 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Jul 23 1950 Article
Jul 23 1950 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Jun 16 1970 Article
Jun 16 1970 Article
Wallis Drive-In - Mar 19 1995 Article
Mar 19 1995 Article
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