Ronnie D's was established in 1991 as a locally owned and operated family restaurant, however it was actually 20 years earlier that the legacy began. Ron and Betty Derogatis moved their young family to Colville in 1971 and began nine successful years of owning and operating the A&W Drive In. The business began as a "Root Beer Stand" with only a walk up service window and carhops and was only operated nine months out of the year. The dining area was not added in until 1973.