What area residents call the “original” Burger King is celebrating its golden anniversary this week.

Mattoon’s Burger King, which is owned by Gene and Betty Hoots, does not boast popular foods like the whopper, but instead is famous for its “hooters” and ice cream with sugar eyes on top.

The restaurant started off as a soft-serve ice cream shop called “Frigid Queen.” However, soon after, the Hoots decided to add sandwiches and other items to their menu so that they would be able to stay open year round, at which time they changed the name, Hoots said.

“I probably would have gotten into farming if the land was available at the time,” Gene Hoots said, in reference to how he started in the fast food business.

The rest is history, as Burger King has been a highly frequented mainstay in Mattoon for the last 50 years.

During the course of the anniversary week, they are raffling off five Burger King gift certificates, ranging from $10 to $50. In addition, they are also raffling off a television set and “Beanie Babies,” as well as putting a different item on sale for 50 cents every day, Hoots said.

Five years after starting Burger King, the Hoots’ heard of another restaurant by the same name in Skokie. After looking into it further, Hoots said they discovered that the Burger King chain of restaurants had come into existence.

However, when he discovered the chain had a registered license in Illinois for the rights to the name, the Hoots’ decided to sue the Burger King Corporation. The case ended up in the Illinois Supreme Court and a ruling was made that there was to be no Burger King franchise within a 20 mile radius of the original restaurant in Mattoon.

Gene and Betty Hoots both seem to be content with the ruling, having enjoyed much success over the years.

“Were so grateful for all the friends we’ve made,” Hoots said.

When the Hoots can no longer run the store, they plan to turn it over to their son, who currently lives in Colorado.

Their son seems to be embracing the idea. Hoots said his son told him that he expects his children to come to the restaurant’s 100th anniversary.