David Ervin

David Hugh “Tater” Ervin was born on March 16, 1956, in Tallulah, LA. He would later become a pioneering figure in the state’s food and beverage culture as the creator of The Daiquiri Factory Ltd., the world’s first drive-thru daiquiri bar. His idea permanently reshaped how Americans understand the word “daiquiri” and introduced a business model that would spread across Louisiana and beyond.

Raised on a farm with his siblings, Ervin learned independence early. His grandfather, William “Teber” Smith, reinforced that mindset with simple principles: start where you are, work with what you have, and trust your own judgment. High school football coaches echoed the same lesson, warning against self-imposed limits. Those ideas formed Ervin’s belief that possibility begins with conviction.

In 1981, while attending Louisiana Tech University, Ervin noticed frozen cocktails being sold “to go” just outside the Ruston, LA city limits. Inspired, he left school and opened The Daiquiri Factory Ltd. in Lafayette. After reviewing liquor laws without finding a clear prohibition, he opened a drive-thru window and waited to see what would happen.

The response was immediate. Thousands of customers arrived within weeks, and the startup loan was repaid early. Attempts by city officials to shut the business down failed, and court rulings ultimately validated the concept. Soon, drive-thru daiquiri shops spread statewide.

Today, Ervin lives in Metairie with his wife, Kathleen McGinnis. Though no longer a shop owner, he remains active in the industry he helped create.

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