How To Help Bring Back The Historic KN Awning Amarillo

In Amarillo, we love our nostalgia. We want to go back and relive things that we have grown to love as we were growing up. It hits hard when we get older, and we just want a piece of the good ol' days.

That is why, when we start talking about stores and restaurants we miss in Amarillo, it blows up. We love what we love, and sometimes that is stuff we can't get anymore. We long for going back, even for a moment.

The Social Media Call-Out for the K-N Awning

That nostalgia led to a request on social media. If you follow the "Amarillo Restaurant Reviews.....At Your Own Risk' page, you may have seen the ask.

Hey, Big Jim, I know you got tired of this lame nostalgic request, but since you have KN Rootbeer, the pizza, the drive-in movie, and I don't know what else, can you put the awning back up at KN now? We want to sip root beer floats in icy mugs under the shade like the old days. - Larry

'Big Jim' Dewitz took over K-N Root Beer Drive-In (3900 Olsen Blvd) when we could have lost it totally. He also saved the Tascosa Drive-In (1999 Dumas Dr), and if that is not enough, he also has Big Jim's Pizza Co. (3801 Olsen Blvd). I am just exhausted listing all he does.

So to say he has his hands full is an understatement, trying to run them all and keep Amarillo happy. Fortunately, local business owners like Big Jim regularly monitor community forums and take the time to address public questions directly.

Big Jim Sets the Record Straight on the Timeline

Big Jim did respond.

I just want to clear up a few things because there seems to be some confusion about the K-N awning and what happened to it.

The awning was damaged once back in 1996, before we owned K-N, and Sue, the original owner, had it repaired at that time. It came down again in 2020, also before we owned the business. At that time, there was no insurance money available to replace it, so the decision was made to remove it.

This awning that Amarillo misses so much has been gone long before Jim took over K-N, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to bring it back. This wasn't the first time he has been asked about the awning.

The High Cost of Historic Preservation

They want to bring the awning back, which has always been part of the plan. They just want to do it right. The estimates he has received have been between $70,000 and $160,000, but what they want is for the awning to fit the character of K-N Rootbeer. Achieving the exact historic look requires a substantial investment, proving that the delay is due to careful planning rather than a lack of effort.

I do get a little frustrated when I see comments that make it sound like the “new owners” just don’t care or don’t want to put it back. The awning was already gone before we came along, and we’ve spent a lot of time since then trying to figure out the best way to bring it back. We care very much about preserving what makes K-N special. Sometimes doing something correctly takes a little longer than we’d all like.

Fundraising Efforts and Using Classic Window Trays

They are thinking of ways to raise funds to go towards this project. Currently, they are hosting a "Root Beer for a Year" raffle. They will be selling their K-N mugs soon and also working on t-shirts and other merchandise, all of which could help with the cost of an awning.

This is definitely something that they would love to see brought back in the future; it just takes some time. Amarillo has to be patient and get out and support K-N Root.

The social media discussion also sparked questions about another classic feature: the iconic car window trays. If you're craving the full retro drive-in experience, you'll be glad to know they are still available; you just have to ask.

Big Jim said that nowadays customers prefer to have their food in a bag. If you want one, just ask, but be warned that the usage comes at your own risk.

Our Amarillo wind can be unpredictable and could cause the tray to fly off and damage your car. Those root beer mugs and trays could cause some damage if the wind hits just right. Find a calm day and request a tray to experience that nostalgia again.

Ultimately, Big Jim and his team want Amarillo to know their mission hasn't changed. They aren't trying to rewrite K-N's history; they are fighting to protect it, preserve it, and bring back its classic features the right way.

We appreciate everybody who loves K-N and cares about its history. We do too. We’re not trying to change what K-N is. We’re trying to keep it going, take care of it, and when we bring pieces of its history back, we want to make sure we do them the right way.