Frosto Drive-In, commonly referred to as "Frosto" is located in [[Crowley]], [[Louisiana]]. Located at the corner of East 3rd Street and North Avenue G, Frosto is well known in South [[Louisiana]] for its homemade [[hamburger]]. Frosto is included on tours of [[Acadia Parish]] and [[Crowley]].
Originally opened by Ralph Roseland in 1950 as part of the national chain Zesto, the business served hotdogs, ice cream and soft drinks. After a few years as Zesto, the business encountered financial hardship. Roseland became delinquent on rental payments to the Lawrence family, descendants of Crowley's founding Duson family.
In 1955, Roseland suggested to the Lawrences that Zesto's manager, Helen Larive Lafosse, takeover Zesto and assume the debt for the one year of backdue rent. Lafosse was an 8th grade educated seamstress who had worked her way to manager at Zesto. Knowing that Roseland was unable to pay rent, Lafosse negotiated a reduced rent with the Lawrences. The deal was made on a handshake. Next, she severed ties with the Zesto chain to save the franchise fees. In renaming the business, Lafosse tried to save as much of the neon sign as possible to save costs. She kept the S T O and renamed the business Frosto.
Soon, the menu expanded to include [[hamburgers]]. In the 1960's, Lafosse's daughter, Lola Lafosse Trahan, bacame a partner in Frosto. Frosto became popular as a reward for winners of local youth league baseball games. Each team had a local sponsor that treated the team to malts and burgers after each winning game. After a game, winning teams piled into cars and trucks and headed to Frosto. This trend continued through the 1960's and 1970's.
During the 1970's, Frosto's popularity continued as national fast food chains entered the market. Fast food restaurants began to popup in North [[Crowley]] near insterstate 10. Frosto's appeal remained because the products were homemade and Frosto was located downtown. Influenced by the national chains, in the 1980's, Frosto added a drive-thru. Shortly thereafter, Trahan expanded the menu to include homecooked plate lunches.
In 1996, after 41 years of doing business on a handshake, the remaining heirs of the Lawrence family no longer lived in [[Crowley]]. Trahan purchased the land and building where her mother began Frosto in 1955.
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