CHARLOTTE EATS

O'Neill's Fine Food & Spirits

2012-01-14T14:25:00.003-05:00

O'Neill's was located at 118 W. 5th St (between Tryon and Church). It was a popular Irish bar owned by Mike O'Neill. It was in operation throughout the 1980's. The above picture is from 1983.

Gus' Central Diner

2012-01-14T12:47:00.008-05:00

Mid-40's aerial of the 1500 block of Central Ave (diner in center)

Close-up of the diner from the top photo

Mid-40's ad - great interior shot!

Gus' Central Diner was located at 1509 Central Ave (near the intersection of The Plaza & Central). Run by Gus Thevaos, the diner ran from the 1940's through the 1960's. The diner was originally a street car and was converted in the 1930's and moved to the Central Ave location.

Gus' son Peter notes about the aerial photo - "It was the mid 40's during WWll. My dad's diner is in the center, 'Gus' Central Diner' (1509 Central). To the right was my uncle John's Ice Cream Store. Our house in the background and dad's 42 Ford Coupe is in the drive. To the left is Ed Garmon's Pure Oil Station, now Fuel Pizza. Across the street on the corner is Harris Clothing Store. Next door was Harris Bros. Grocery Store (Pre Super Market, pre Harris Teeter). Pic and Pay and Family Dollar started later a few doors up Central. There was also Fred May's Hardware Store and Hahn's Bakery and a parsonage that Rev. Sink I believe and his family lived there. The Plaza Theater was a block East.".

Much thanks to Peter Thevaos for the great images as well as his recollections of the diner and the area!

Southpark area 1994

2012-01-09T20:45:00.006-05:00

An interesting look back at the various eating options in the Southpark area in 1994. Good list of the then-tenants of the Southpark Mall food court as well.

Thanks to Beth Nackashi for providing the scans for this post!

Sandwichess

2012-01-01T21:35:00.002-05:00

Sandwichess opened in 1980 at the corner of Kings Dr and E. Morehead St (current site of a map shop). It was owned by Nick Panos - he had had previous success across the street with the popular 20th Century Fox Disco. Sandwichess would prove to be very short-lived-closing after just a few years. Nick's biggest success would lie ahead with Nickyo's Rodeo on Providence Rd.

Hearth & Embers

2011-11-16T20:19:00.003-05:00

Nice 1970's shot of the Hearth & Embers Restaurant located inside the Manger Inn.

The Gondola

2011-10-26T23:43:00.021-04:00

1968 exterior shot

1968 interior shot

1981 shot of the exterior mural

Late 70's menu

Business card

1959 ad

1960 ad

1967 ad

1968 ad

1972 ad

1973 ad

1975 ad

"It's like a shortcut to Italy" was the slogan of The Gondola. Located at the intersection of W. Morehead and Wilkinson Blvd, The Gondola opened in 1953 and had an impressive run over the span of four decades. Owned by Steve and Gus Economos, the restaurant featured what they described as an "Italian Old World Atmosphere" and a very traditional Italian menu. They were most famous for their pizza and lasagna as well as their selection of up to 20 different spaghetti sauces. The "Pizza El Greco" - featuring feta and provolone cheeses and oregano - was a popular house specialty.

Revisions!!!

2011-10-16T14:43:00.003-04:00

These posts have been updated with ads and photos--click on the links below and then scroll to the bottom of each page to see the revisions.

Presto Grill/Nixon Bros. Steakhouse

Stork Restaurants HALL OF FAME EATERIES

2011-10-14T23:47:00.039-04:00

Independence Blvd location

Independence Blvd interior

Freedom Village location

1963 ad

1965 ad

1967 ad

The "Chateaubriand crest"

Interior shots of the Chateaubriand (above three)

1961 letter announcing the third Stork location at Freedom Village

Promo flier for the Stork Freedom Village location (above four pictures)

1959 ad

1962 ad

1968 ad

Throughout the 1950's and '60's, one of the most popular places to eat in Charlotte was The Stork. Owned by Joseph Antoon and Raymond Kaleel, they opened the first Stork on Kings Dr in 1946. They quickly became known for quality food at reasonable prices.

In 1955, they would open what would become their flagship location on Independence Blvd next to the newly opened Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium. If you were going to a show at either venue, you most likely were going to The Stork before the event. Frequent Stork guest Arthur Pendleton remembers the Stork on Independence as being more modern compared to other eateries of the day. With the high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows and curtains, it had a more open, dramatic feel to it. As you walked in to the dining room, Jerry Shriver was to the left on an elevated platform playing the organ for the diners' enjoyment. Arthur recalls the "Chef's suggestion" section of the menu being the most popular and he routinely ordered the chopped steak with mushroom dressing for the low price of $1.47 (low even by late-1950's standards).

Mirroring the growth and expansion of Charlotte, a third Stork was opened in 1961 at the newly opened Freedom Village. To mirror suburban-tastes, this location would also feature a coffee shop, a dining room just for men eating lunch (the "Esquire Room") and a newly revamped menu featured a wider offering of choices (referred to as "Continental dishes"). This location would also be the only one open on Sundays. In the mid-60's, a fourth eatery was opened called the Chateaubriand Continental Steakhouse. Charcoal steakhouses were hot at the time and the fourth location followed this trend.

The era of the Stork came to a close at the end of the '60's. The Kings Dr location had closed in the mid-60's, and the entire group closed by the end of the decade. Valentino's would open successfully in the old Independence location, and Slugs Rib would open in the Chateaubriand location.

Thanks to Arthur Pendleton for his invaluable memories for this post!

Harrill's Bar-B-Q

2011-10-14T17:39:00.017-04:00

1961 photo

1962 photo

1964 photo

1965 ad

1966 ad

1965 ad

The Philadelphia Deli currently resides in the Harrill's building

1959 ad

Harrill's Bar-B-Q was located at 1025 Kings Dr across from the current location of CMC. It opened in 1955 and was owned by Albert Cleveland "Tab" Harrill. Before opening this location, he co-owned the Chick-R-Pig which was located across the street and down from Harrill's. Harrill's, like most eateries of this era, featured both interior seating as well as car-hop service. Its speciality was Western-style barbecue cooked over a charcoal pit. They also had a full menu of sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and chicken. Harrill's would run into the late-60's. For the last 30 years, the Philadelphia Deli has occupied the original Harrill's building.

Do-Nut Dinette

2011-10-10T23:42:00.006-04:00

Phil's Dinette 1970's

All American Diner - Late '80's (courtesy of B. Baldwin)

Great photo ad from 1948. There are some of these still in operation in America, but all of the Charlotte locations are long gone. One Charlotte location (Central and The Plaza) would become the popular Phil's Dinette through the 1970's and later the All-American Diner.

Shoney's Big Boy Drive-Ins HALL OF FAME EATERIES

2011-10-03T21:14:00.031-04:00

Shoney's #1 on Morehead St (1959 - 1979)

1962 saw the opening of a second location

By 1965, there were three locations

Close-up of the previous ad---not only are they perched on the sign, but how cool are those masks they are holding?

One of the hottest places to go in the '60's in Charlotte was the Shoney's Drive-In. The first one opened in 1959 on Morehead St in a building previously housed by the Borden Ice Cream Co. The second location (Shoney's #2) opened in 1962 on The Plaza and the third location opened on Independence Blvd just east of the Charlotte Coliseum in 1965. Many other locations would be added in the '70's, but the three original locations were widely considered the best and most symbolic for the era.

Marketing these locations involved an ad campaign that used area Charlotte students photographed at the three different locations from 1961-1968. Not only are the ads very interesting, but they give a great glimpse into the decor and ambiance of the restaurants.

Bygone eateries

2011-09-30T21:53:00.001-04:00

Today's Charlotte Observer has a great list of dishes we miss from bygone eateries. Check it out by clicking here. Good to know that many of these places have been profiled on this site...

Belk's 1956

2011-09-28T22:53:00.009-04:00

On Monday, November 12, 1956, Belk ushered in the new era of retailing with the grand opening of their newly renovated downtown store. $4 million dollars bought an extensive face-lift and an expansion that added over 200,000 square feet of new space. Included in the expansion was a new state of the art cafeteria in the basement and a new lunch counter on the mezzanine level. These great ads are from the opening week.

Pachi's

2011-09-28T22:30:00.004-04:00

Located at the current spot of the Selwyn Ave Pub, Pachi's opened in May of 1989. Run by L.A. "Pachi" Diaz and his brothers Rick and Vince, Pachi's specialized in authentic Cuban cuisine. Cuban standards such as shredded flank steak, marinated swordfish, and roast pork shared the menu with unique Cuban offerings such as a Cuban oyster dish called Oyster Tente. Unfortunately, Pachi's would prove to be short-lived.

Tanner's revisted

2011-09-25T12:16:00.005-04:00

Astute reader Rick Fisher notes there is a Tanner's in Greenville, SC that has been there since 1943. Officially named "Tanner's Big Orange", there must be a connection to the fabled Tanner's that was in downtown Charlotte for decades (see original post here). Thinking there must have been a franchise awarded to this Greenville location in the '40's. Anyone know?

Bo-Peep Grill

2011-09-23T17:51:00.003-04:00

1952 ad

A nice postcard shot of a forgotten eatery from many years ago...

Carolina Diners Club 1975

2011-08-02T00:26:00.003-04:00

From 1975 comes an ad for the Carolina Diners Club. Not sure what the deal was - it appears you pay dues and get free entrees. Nice list of restaurants at the time, though.

Space Stations

2011-07-25T00:36:00.006-04:00

From February 1983 came news of the "restaurant of the future". Space Stations was to include "Space Cadet" servers in space-themed outfits, robots serving drinks, and a "Refuse Robot" trash can that said "thank you" when used. Alas, the concept never came to be and Charlotte was left wondering what dining in the future would really be like...

The Drum HALL OF FAME EATERY

2011-07-24T23:59:00.024-04:00

The Drum as it appeared in 1948

The Drum as it appeared in the 1980's

Early 1960's menu (thanks to Rick Fisher)

Original Drum neon sign

The Drum's logo and motto

1953 ad

1975 ad

The Drum shortly after closing (note the "Drum" rising in the center)

The current eatery has a raised patio which gives a great view of the "drum"

The Drum Restaurant was located at 1520 East Blvd. and was opened in 1948 by Wad Smith. When the restaurant was first built, it was round and decorated like a drum. The original set-up included a lunch counter, two tables, four booths, and car-hop curb service. In 1955, it was enlarged to include 15 booths and in 1961, 10 additional booths were added. Curb service continued until 1968. Over time with the enlarging of the restaurant, the original drum structure was built around and was only visible along the roof-line.

Wad's son, Larry, began working at The Drum in 1960, became manager in 1973, and ultimately took over all operations in 1976 when his dad retired.

The concept of The Drum changed very little over the years. Consistently offering home-style cooked meats and vegetables along with daily prepared pies. The menu also offered king mackerel and black bass caught by Wad himself.

The Drum would run for 47 years finally closing on June 28, 1995 after the lunch service. The building has housed several restaurants over the years of varying success. The one constant is the visible drum still rising above the restaurant---a forever symbol of old Charlotte at its finest.

Do you remember these Charlotte restaurants?

2011-07-24T22:30:00.002-04:00

Came across this list recently. Which eateries do you recall? Share your memories!

Charlotte Dining - 1972

2011-02-28T00:33:00.001-05:00

1972 magazine insert showcasing the popular restaurants of the time. How many do you remember?

THE ORIENTAL Menu peek

2011-02-28T00:10:00.004-05:00

Late-70's menu for Charlotte's most famous Chinese restaurant - The Oriental. Enjoy the menu--full-post coming soon!

Ole Smokehouse CLOSED

2010-08-22T14:15:00.041-04:00

The famous Chinese oven

The Queen City Room - reserved for large parties.

The two above signs were mounted above the window to the kitchen.

Opened in 1957, The Ole Smokehouse was a tradition for barbecue in South Charlotte. Located on Montford Dr, The Ole Smokehouse was at the top of the hill that was for years one of Charlotte's original "restaurant rows". Their meats were cooked in a unique Chinese oven and the style of barbecue was minced (more finely cut than the standard "chopped"). It was owned since 1985 by the Koutsoupias family---Bill Koutsoupias started working at the restaurant in 1970 and eventually bought out the original owners. A second location on Yorkmount Drive closed in 2002.

The Ole Smokehouse closed on June 5 of this year. It's closing signals the final switch from the original restaurant row of the 1950's to a new flock of chef-driven eateries that are now lining the street. It will be missed.

Manzetti's CLOSED

2010-05-16T22:15:00.008-04:00

Origins of the Manzetti name

Bar scene

The popular Southpark restaurant, Frank Manzetti's closed on April 17th. A landmark since the Summer of 1986, Manzetti's was famous for their "Pittsburgh-style" steaks and chops. 24 years of consistent service and food will be missed.

The site was originally MacArthur's throughout the 1970's and early-'80's and then Moxie's for a short stretch in the mid-80's. Plans call for the location to be turned into a Mexican restaurant.

Valentino's

2010-03-15T21:34:00.008-04:00

Exterior shot taken shortly before closing

The original Valentino's sign was a spectacular on-off cycling neon sign

1984 ad

1992 ad

Valentino's operated on Independence Blvd for almost 33 years from 1969 until 2002. Striking a balance between Italian and Greek food, Valentino's proved to be one of the more successful of a long line of Charlotte-based Greek-run Italian eateries.

Greek native Bill Georges came to Charlotte from New York in 1969, and, with

his restaurateur friend Peter Parrous of Fayetteville, bought the old Stork

Restaurant attached to the Coliseum Inn on East Independence (next door to the old Charlotte Coliseum). Georges and Parrous originally called the restaurant Deno`s, but the owner of Dino's Restaurant on Monroe Rd took them to court and they were forced to choose a different name. ``If you have an Italian name for your restaurant and one-third of your dishes are Italian, you`ll do all right in Charlotte,`` Parrous had told Georges. So the partners scrolled through their list of Italian names and selected Valentino`s, which they thought had exactly the right ring. Georges would buy out Parrous' stake in 1972 and would run the restaurant until its last days in 2002. For a very short while, they opened a second location of Valentino's off of Woodlawn Rd in the late-90's, but this location proved short-lived.

CHARLOTTE EATS

O'Neill's Fine Food & Spirits

Gus' Central Diner

Southpark area 1994

Sandwichess

Hearth & Embers

The Gondola

Revisions!!!

Stork Restaurants **HALL OF FAME EATERIES**

Harrill's Bar-B-Q

Do-Nut Dinette

Shoney's Big Boy Drive-Ins **HALL OF FAME EATERIES**

Bygone eateries

Belk's 1956

Pachi's

Tanner's revisted

Bo-Peep Grill

Carolina Diners Club 1975

Space Stations

The Drum **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

Do you remember these Charlotte restaurants?

Charlotte Dining - 1972

THE ORIENTAL ***Menu peek***

Ole Smokehouse **CLOSED**

Manzetti's ***CLOSED***

Valentino's

Stork Restaurants HALL OF FAME EATERIES

Shoney's Big Boy Drive-Ins HALL OF FAME EATERIES

The Drum HALL OF FAME EATERY

THE ORIENTAL Menu peek

Ole Smokehouse CLOSED

Manzetti's CLOSED