ToquiNotes: The Short History of What this Blogger is Calling the Greatest Fast Food Hamburger of All Time
By Jeff Toquinto on November 23, 2024 from ToquiNotes
What if I told you the greatest fast food hamburger that I’ve ever had was right here in Harrison County? What if I told you the business selling it was sitting on the City of Bridgeport’s border?
Oh, and what if I told you the burger was less than a dollar?
The only part of those three questions that is opinion is the first part. The other two bits of information are stone cold facts.
For anyone that knows me, they may say my opinion is skewed by the price. In fairness, I am sure that it is. And I should also point out 
that this is by no means a slight compared to so many other burgers available in the area and beyond.
that this is by no means a slight compared to so many other burgers available in the area and beyond.
This, though, was my personal favorite. And it is gone. Long gone.
Not only is the burger no longer available, but neither is the business. Not locally, not anywhere in West Virginia or the country for that matter.
The restaurant which I am talking about is Snapps. Do you remember? If you do, you likely remember what an innovative concept it was when it opened up in 1986 right off Tolley Drive and Lodgeville Road.
At the time, it was situated between the old Star Motor Company’s used car lot and what today is (and may have been even at the time) Monro Auto Service and Tire Center. Today, the space of Snapps and Star Motor Company is home to Longhorn Steakhouse – the former Eat’n Park location.
While some may find my recollection and my unabashed love for the restaurant unusual, those who follow the food business in Harrison County will not be even remotely surprised to know it was part of the O’Mara family’s food empire – the one that still includes The Caboose today.
“It was based out of St. Louis and my dad (Pat Sr.) and my uncles (Mike and Tim) joined up with the operator out of the Midwest, Ed Ourant who had the Rax right there, were involved,” said O’Mara. “I joined them in a motor home, and we drove up to St. Louis and
trained for a week to be managers and supervisors before coming back and opening up the three locations.”
trained for a week to be managers and supervisors before coming back and opening up the three locations.”
It was a unique setup. The hamburger joint was small. In fact, there was no dine-in option. What there was that was included, was a unique double drive-through option - one of each side of the building - that was in place during the heavy business hours.
“It was a great concept … It was a better choice, in my opinion, and a better burger than anything else that was offered,” said O’Mara. “On top of that, you just couldn’t beat the prices for such a good burger.”
O’Mara broke down the menu. There were hamburgers, double hamburgers, French fries, breaded chicken sandwiches, and homemade chili – and there was a kids’ menu too. An old commercial screenshot in this blog shows they offered sloppy joes at least one location.
“We have the $1.97 Snapp Pack that was a quarter pounder burger with fries and a drink,” said O’Mara. “If you got cheese on it, you jumped to around $2.20.”
O’Mara, whose family’s food interests included the iconic Burger Chef brand, had other reasons to fondly recall the restaurant.
“I met my wife there. Sherry was my boss,” said O’Mara with a laugh. “We met there when we opened in 1986.”
The marriage, which is still going strong to this day, was not the reason for the closure. Nor was bad business. In fact, O’Mara said it was doing extremely well when the decision was made to close up shop.
“Eat’n Park was coming in and they needed the land,” said O’Mara. “They bought us out, and we just saw it as a return on the investment. 
The only thing looking bad that was a bit bothersome was that Snapps did really good for the time it was there.”
The only thing looking bad that was a bit bothersome was that Snapps did really good for the time it was there.”
O’Mara said it went out sometime in the 1990s. He said it was about the time the transition from the family’s Bonanza restaurant to begin the transition to what eventually became USA Steak Buffet, which today is the home of Brickside Bar & Grille.
“A lot of people really liked the double drive through and really liked the food. We did have outdoor seating, but it was seasonal. You could park and eat if you wanted to, and we had a walk-up window where you could order.”
O’Mara said the combination of a quality product at a really low price was a big hit. He said people came and ordered a huge amount of food.
“You would have someone come in and just order 10 quarter pound burgers at one time and if that’s all they ordered it was, I think, a little more than $10 plus tax,” said O’Mara. “I think what people really like is that they knew at the time what they were getting. It was simple, and it was fast.”
O’Mara said the closings of the local Snapps were staggered. He said it was likely in the mid-1990s but does not have any definitive dates. He also is not definitive, but fairly certain, the chain died many years ago.
“If they’re out there, I haven’t seen them or heard about them,” said O’Mara.
Neither has the internet. There is limited information on Snapps, and I was unable to find anything relating to its history. Even though it is not on the vast expanses of the world wide web, it was there nestled on Bridgeport’s border with Clarksburg.
And the burgers? Like I said above, the best fast food burger I have ever had and up there with any I had had regardless of the venue. You may have had better, but since I cannot be wrong about my own opinion, I can safely die on that hill.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows a Snapps hamburger, minus the cheese, while the second image shows the unique double drive through concept. In the bottom image, the menu is shown for a Snapps. All images taken from a Snapps commercial from the 1980s or early 1990s.
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