A Match Made in Ice Cream with David & Maureen Rutkowski
Everyone enjoys a classic burger and fries, but they also enjoy a good love story. Meet the owners of John’s Drive-In, David and Maureen, who met at the Drive-In in 85′ and have been married for 25 years! Get a glimpse into their relationship, from where it all started with a scoop of ice cream to how they keep John’s Drive-In original and unique today.
How did David and Maureen meet?
It was back in 1985 when David bought the Drive-In, and Maureen, a summertime employee at the time, taught him all the ice cream flavors. From then, they have been a match made in ice cream! They just celebrated their 25th anniversary and have two children together.
What makes Montauk a unique place to raise a family?
David: Luckily, I had experience because I was raised in Montauk. We enjoy living here because of the change of seasons. Montauk is different during the different times of the year. In July and August, it is the hustle and bustle, but during the winter, it is so laid back that everyone I bump into at the IGA or Post Office I know. Then, in the Spring and Fall, you get a nice mix of both.
What is the inspiration behind John’s Drive-In?
Maureen: Well, the Drive-In started in 1967, so it was already here. When David was a kid, he sat at these exact tables.
David: As a long-time customer of Johns Drive-In before I bought it, my job was just not to mess it up! It was great for so many reasons: I loved the ice cream, and I thought the vibe of the whole place was really cool, so my job coming in here as the new owner was not to mess that up.
Maureen: And I think even to this day, we do updates, but we still try to keep that old-school feel. Very often, we get grandparents that come in here saying, “I came here as a kid, and now I’m bringing my grandkids here.”
David: Or now when a family comes in with their kids, they’ll say to them, “When I was your age, this guy made me my ice cream!”
Keeping the nostalgia of John’s Drive-In is important to both David and Maureen. They explained that they occasionally make minor updates to keep up with the times, but for the most part, aim to keep the original Drive-In’s character, such as having the original tables from when they first opened.
What is each of your favorite items on the menu?
David & Maureen: Hands down, the homemade ice cream! We don’t have a favorite flavor because we go through phases where one week it is toasted coconut, but the next it’s coffee Oreo. Or when we create new flavors, that is exciting too!