Pictured is the drive-in B&K restaurant in Silver Lake. Photo provided by Kelly Kerlin.

By Madison Hart
InkFreeNews

SILVER LAKE — Kelly Kerlin is reopening the B&K drive-in restaurant at 606 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake.

Kerlin purchased the property in May, according to Kosciusko County Beacon GIS. Currently, the property is undergoing various inspections needed to provide food services.

He hopes the restaurant will reopen by the end of the summer season.

The building will remain B&K, with all the favorite menu options such as hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream and root beer floats.

According to Kerlin, the building is not undergoing renovations, but he does plan to put a big hot dog sign above the existing sign.

Kerlin discussed ideas for the restaurant such as “…contemplating keeping the main part of the building open year round for walk-in business. It won’t be the car hop after the summer season is over, after Labor Day. As long as I have the help to run it, I’m planning on maybe even having another shift open for breakfast to grab and go.”

He also said people have approached him about having various events there such as hot dog eating contests, which he is open to.

“I’m from Silver Lake. I grew up there all my life. The reason it’s called Nancy Jo’s B&K, why I named it that, is after my mother. When I was a kid, we had a ’66 Mustang. I remember sitting in the back seat, going up there, and Mom saying, ‘Boy, it’d be fun to own this,'” Kerlin chuckled. “She passed away a few years ago. And I thought, that’s cool, now she does.”