Beloved Bethel Drive-In Closes After Lease Was Not Renewed

BETHEL, CT — After more than seven decades in business, a longtime Bethel drive-in restaurant has officially closed its doors.

The Sycamore Drive-In served its final customers on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, ending a run that began in 1948. The owners announced the closure in a public message, saying the restaurant’s lease was not renewed after 28 years under their ownership.

“All good things come to an end,” the family wrote, thanking customers, employees, and the community for decades of support.

The Sycamore was widely known as one of Bethel’s most recognizable landmarks and one of the last remaining original drive-in restaurants in the country. Over the years, it became a gathering place for generations of families.

The owners said the restaurant built lasting relationships with customers who grew up eating there, moved away, and later returned with families of their own. Many employees also stayed for years, with several working at the Sycamore for more than two decades. Others started as high school students and remained through college and beyond, according to the owners.

Beyond food, the Sycamore was known for its weekly Cruise Nights, which brought classic cars to the parking lot on Saturday evenings from April through November, weather permitting. The events featured music, trophies, and crowds of spectators and car enthusiasts.

The drive-in was known for its burgers, homemade root beer, milkshakes, and 1950s-style décor.

“It’s been copied, but never duplicated,” the owners wrote, describing the restaurant as a unique and special place for both their family and the community.

The message ended with thanks to customers and a holiday wish, marking the end of an era for a business that had been part of Bethel for nearly 78 years.