BETHEL – A part of the town’s eatery history has ended with the closure of Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant on Christmas Eve. The restaurant was one of the last drive-ins in the United States.
“All good things come to an end!” read a note on Facebook from the owners, the Austin family. “After 78+ years in continuous operation, the Sycamore closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. After 28 years, our lease was not renewed.”
Chris, Patrick and Kathleen Austin have run the unique restaurant known for 1950s décor, homemade root beer, special burgers, shakes and car hop service.
“We are grateful to our loyal customers and the many friends we have made along the way,” the Austins stated. “Your continued support, especially during Covid, is deeply appreciated. It has been a pleasure meeting so many wonderful people, young and old alike.”
Over the years the Sycamore offered entertainment, such as Elvis nights, Christmas sing-alongs, thanks to local musician Billy Michael. The restaurant also hosted classic car days and dancing.
Customers of the diner reached out on Facebook to reminisce about the Sycamore shortly after management announced its closing.
“I am very sad to hear about the closing of The Sycamore,” said the owner of the Dawg House in Danbury in a Facebook post. “They are an institution in Danbury and Bethel. I grew up in Bethel, and my first ‘real’ job with a paycheck was at the Sycamore. Mrs. Austin taught me the value of pretending to be busy at work. I actually called her about two years ago and told her I was sorry for anything I had ever done. I now get to manage teenagers.”
She mentioned that she used to work the drive in nights on Saturdays until close.
“My parents took me to the Sycamore weekly; I took my son there,” she said. “My grandparents went on dates at the Sycamore. Some things are bigger than a cheeseburger.”
Lance Bergeron, also in a Facebook post, loved the 1950s motif of the Sycamore.
“The Sycamore Drive-in restaurant was like a scene from American Graffiti or ‘Happy Days’ for much of the 60’s and 70’s, then later, a great place for ‘hot rod’ cruise-ins,” he said.
The Austin family, led by Patrick Austin and his father Gene, bought the Sycamore Drive-In Restaurant in November 1997. Until its final day, it was run by Patrick, his mother Chris and his sister Kathleen.
Gene Austin, who died in 2020, had been a fixture in greater Danbury and Norwalk before buying the diner. For more than 45 years, he was involved in the paving industry with his father, first as the owner of Austin Paving and later as an estimator for Grosso Construction of Norwalk and American Pavement Specialists of Danbury.
