On 20th June 1919, Roy Allen opens the first Root Beer stand in Lodi, California to sell a proprietary beverage made from a secret blend of 14 herbs, spices, barks & berries. Soon after, Allen goes into partnership with one of his employees, Franks Wright and three new outlets are established in Houston. The partners give their Root Beer the famous A&W name.

Allen develops the nation's first "car hop" restaurant service in Sacramento, and a year later, the A&W trademark was legalized. In 1925, he begins selling franchises to others, enabling them to open A&W drive-ins and vending booths, thus establishing America's first franchise restaurant chain.

A&W opened its first restaurant in Bangladesh on 15 Dec 2004.