Nat Bailey
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Ryal Bailey better known as Nat Bailey was a restaurateur best known for building the first drive-in
restaurant
in Canada
, in 1928, and developing the first car-hop tray. His chain of White Spot
restaurants continues to thrive today.
. He expanded his business by adding hot drinks and hamburgers. When the Forum's roof collapsed in 1934, he built the famous log cabin, White Spot, at 70th and Granville streets in Vancouver's Marpole district. The logs were painted white and the ends painted green. This was the first drive-in in Canada. The car-hops wore green uniforms with Naugahyde
captain's caps, and a white stripe down the pant leg. Nat's specially designed tray fit between the car's window sills. He became famous for his hamburgers, which used Nat's "secret sauce", which was rumoured to be Thousand Island dressing
mixed with mayonnaise, but he never revealed the recipe. The hamburger drew customers from all over Vancouver and his French Fries
were never less than 3 inches in length. Later, Nat became famous for his "Chicken Pickens". This was long before the Colonel
and KFC
were on the scene. The White Spot became so popular for its tasty food that Nat built several of the drive-ins throughout Vancouver and Victoria. He sold the chain to General Foods
when he retired as a very famous restaurateur and community sports supporter.
Bailey was a Freemason, and supporter of the Marpole Rotary Club, as well as the Chamber of Commerce
.
professional team. His love of the game was commemorated with the renaming of Capilano Stadium to Nat Bailey Stadium
after his death in 1978. The reasons for his death are unknown. Nat Bailey Stadium is currently the home of the Vancouver Canadians
, a short season Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
.
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in 1928, and developing the first car-hop tray. His chain of White Spot
White Spot
White Spot is a Canadian restaurant chain based in Vancouver, British Columbia, best known for its hamburgers, Pirate Pak children's meal, and other home-style food, as well as its "carhop" drive-in service and "Triple O" burger sauce...
restaurants continues to thrive today.
Biography
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bailey moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1913. He started his business career selling peanuts during games at the Vancouver ForumVancouver Forum
The Vancouver Forum is an indoor arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It hosted the Pacific Coast Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks from 1948 to 1969. The arena holds 5,050 people...
. He expanded his business by adding hot drinks and hamburgers. When the Forum's roof collapsed in 1934, he built the famous log cabin, White Spot, at 70th and Granville streets in Vancouver's Marpole district. The logs were painted white and the ends painted green. This was the first drive-in in Canada. The car-hops wore green uniforms with Naugahyde
Naugahyde
Naugahyde is an American brand of artificial leather . Naugahyde is a composite of a knit fabric backing and polyvinyl chloride plastic coating. It was developed by United States Rubber Company, and is now manufactured and sold by the Uniroyal Engineered Products division of Michelin...
captain's caps, and a white stripe down the pant leg. Nat's specially designed tray fit between the car's window sills. He became famous for his hamburgers, which used Nat's "secret sauce", which was rumoured to be Thousand Island dressing
Thousand Island dressing
Thousand Island dressing is a salad dressing and condiment, a variant of remoulade and Russian dressing.Its base commonly contains mayonnaise and can include olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar, cream, chili sauce, tomato puree, ketchup, or Tabasco...
mixed with mayonnaise, but he never revealed the recipe. The hamburger drew customers from all over Vancouver and his French Fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
were never less than 3 inches in length. Later, Nat became famous for his "Chicken Pickens". This was long before the Colonel
Colonel Sanders
Harland David "Colonel" Sanders was an American fast food businessman who founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain, now re-branded as KFC...
and KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
were on the scene. The White Spot became so popular for its tasty food that Nat built several of the drive-ins throughout Vancouver and Victoria. He sold the chain to General Foods
General Foods
General Foods Corporation was a company whose direct predecessor was established in the USA by Charles William Post as the Postum Cereal Company in 1895. The name General Foods was adopted in 1929, after several corporate acquisitions...
when he retired as a very famous restaurateur and community sports supporter.
Bailey was a Freemason, and supporter of the Marpole Rotary Club, as well as the Chamber of Commerce
Vancouver Board of Trade
The Vancouver Board of Trade is a non-profit organization which seeks to "promote, enhance and facilitate the development of the region as a Pacific centre for trade, commerce and travel." It serves Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in a fashion similar to the Board of Trade or Chamber of...
.
Sports involvement
Bailey was also a supporter of little league baseball in the city of Vancouver and was a part owner of the Vancouver MountiesVancouver Mounties
The Vancouver Mounties were a high-level minor league baseball club based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Mounties played in the Pacific Coast League from 1956 through 1962 as the relocated Oakland Oaks franchise, and from 1965 through 1969 when the Dallas Rangers moved back to Canada.The...
professional team. His love of the game was commemorated with the renaming of Capilano Stadium to Nat Bailey Stadium
Nat Bailey Stadium
Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium is home to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League and also plays host to the University of British Columbia baseball team.-Stadium history:...
after his death in 1978. The reasons for his death are unknown. Nat Bailey Stadium is currently the home of the Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
, a short season Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
External links
- Bio - Grand Lodge of BC & Yukon records