General Announcement About The Restaurant Board

[David Sechrest]

Since there are many many restaurants that have come and gone in Columbus throughout the years, I have decided it's probably best to set this Restaurant board up so that ANYONE can create a new THREAD regarding restaurants.
The posts that made me decide to do things this way was the discussions of Denny's Drive In. I had no idea there was ever a restaurant located on that corner!

Let's keep any new threads here strictly "restaurantish." (Hey, I think I just discovered a new word!

[David Sechrest]

Restaurants in Columbus throughout the decades were called Diners, Lunchroom, Drive-Ins, and Restaurants. As most have already noted in this thread, menu items ranged from hamburgers to steak dinners. "Lunch counters" were also very prevalent in drug stores (Northside Drugs) and department stores (G C Murphys).

Here's a list of some of the dining establishments in Columbus in 1966:

A Ring Brings Pizza, 1871 State Street
A & W Root Beer, 1022 25th St.
Ann's Snack Shop, 1721 State Street
B & K Cafe, 308 Jackson (wasn't this the place with the big coffee pot sign hanging out front?)
B & M Restaurant, 728 Brown St.
Bee's Coffee Shop, 419 5th St.
Bill's Lunch, 309 4th St.
Bob-O-Link, Junction Highway 31 and 46.
Burger Chef, 2411 National Rd.
Carmichael's Fish Stand, 544 Jackson
Colonel's Take Home 2815 National Rd. (KFC)
Cook's Fish Shop, 317 4th St.
D & D Restaurant, 2110 Central
Danner's Trolley Stop Cafeteria
Davis Grill, 421 7th
Dog 'N Suds, 2750 National Rd
Driftwood Inn, 536 Jackson
Fiesta Restaurant, 117 3rd
Frisch's Big Boy, 1711 25th St.
Frostop Drive-In 616 3rd
Gause Cafe, 426 3rd
Gene's Cafeteria, 2628 Eastbrook Plaza
Harold's Cafe, 321 4th
Horn's Fish Shop, 324 4th
Jerry's Drive-In, 3415 National Rd
Kitchenette, 906 25th
Lib's Restaurant, 534 Washington (also called Lib's Nook)
Little Pigs of America, 2240 State
Little Shorty's Lunch, 601 Wilson
Lucas Brothers, 423 4th
Matt's Fish House, 2552 McKinley
Milnes Grill, 1831 McKinley
New Thunder Bird Restaurant, 1830 National Rd
Nick's Drive In, 3007 National Rd
Pat's Grill, 1732 State
Paul's Cafe, 631 Jackson
Pearl's Cafeteria, 1644 Orinoco
Plantation Bar, 302 8th
Ranch-O-Grill, 1521 State
Red Barn, 1021 25th St.
Sammy's Root Beer Stand, 1922 Ohio Ave
Sap's Coffee House, 1202 Washington
17th Street Restaurant, 2024 17th St.
Snack Bar, 2431 Ohio Ave
Star Restaurant, 1202 7th St.
Swan Restaurant, 607 Washington
10th Street Restaurant, 1723 10th
3rd Street Cafe, 316 3rd St.
Watts (Benjamin F.) 1225 Washington St.

Burger Chef and "The Colonels" were about the only national chains located here. You'll also notice no italian or mexican restaurants in Columbus!

[richard]

Restaurants listed in the 1953 Columbus City Directory.

Perhaps I should put a disclaimer here at the start! Gregg and I have determined that not all business locations are listed. I generate these lists by using the Classified Business Directory in the Columbus City Directories that I have access to. Gregg knew that a tavern named Harold’s existed in the Columbus of his childhood.

I checked the street guide and Harold’s is indeed listed in that guide.

It appears that the listing in this list was a paid list and not all Businesses of that type were listed!

1. Barn Lunch Room 103 5th Street
2. Bob-O-Link Drive In 25th and US 31
3. Campbell Kenneth F. 2024 17th. Street
4. Carmichael, Carmel L. 544 Jackson Street
5. Carmichael’s Fish Sandwich Shop 324 4th Street
6. Central Steak House 2110 Central Avenue
7. Charley’s 132 4th Street
8. Davis, Donald V. 426 4th Street
9. Davis, Gerald I. 421 7th Street
10. Ervin, Russell W. 316 3rd Street
11. Fifth Street Sandwich Shop 414 5th Street
12. Fisher, Emily E. Mrs. 414 4th Street
13. Gause Café 426 3rd Street
14. Halls 307 3rd Street
15. Harold’s Café 321 4th Street
16. Jiffy Lunch 292 North Mapleton
17. Johnny’s 312 Washington Street
18. Kitchenette, The 906 25th Street
19. Kitzinger Café 321 Washington Street
20. Lafayette House 1001 Lafayette Avenue
21. Lib’s Nook 534 Washington Street
22. Lucas, Merlin A. 423 4th Street
23. Mabel’s Sandwich Shop 1437 Washington Street
24. Mac’s Lunch 309 4th Street
25. McQueen, Roy E. 320 3rd. Street
26. Mildred’s Cafeterias 224 Jackson Street
27. Morrison, Robert B. 814 Wilson Street
28. Nick’s Dairy Bar 3007 National Road
29. Palms Café 425 4th Street
30. Pine Knott Grill 2531 Ohio Avenue
31. Ruby’s Drive In 1521 State Street
32. Shorty’s Lunch 601 Wilson Street
33. Stott’s, Hanley 1644 Orinoco Avenue
34. Suburban Grill State Street and Illinois Avenue
35. Swan Restaurant 307 Washington Street
36. Taylor’s Grill 1202 Washington Street
37. Terminal Lunch 536 Jackson Street
38. 3rd Street Care 520 3rd Street
39. Wille Food Shop 419 5th Street
40. Wilson, Carrie Mrs. 317 2nd Street
41. Zaharako Dairy 718 Pearl Street

[richard]

Restaurants listed in the 1957 Columbus City Directory.

Some things I’ve noticed while typing this lists. Some listings moved. Some disappeared. Some locations stayed and the name changed. Some are in both restaurant and tavern lists.

Zaharako Dairy at 718 Pearl Street isn’t in the 1957 list. Zaharako Dairy and Dairy Bar are listed in the location listing in 1957! Nineteen fifty-seven was the first the high school was at the twenty-fifth street campus! The old campus became a Middle school that year. Were those students allowed to leave campus at lunch? Now, we have another question for someone to answer...

Perhaps each business had to pay, to be listed in the ‘Yellow Pages Classified Business Directory’. If that’s the case, these lists may not be complete.

I also don’t see any listings that were it the county, just those within Columbus. You don’t see a listing for Denny’s, Hill Top which was on 31 south, Miller’s which JK talked about in these boards. Wasn’t their always a restaurant at US 31 & SR 7 Junction?

Enjoy,

Richard


1. Ann’s Snack Shop 1721 State Street
2. B & M 2110 Central Avenue
3. Bills Lunch 309 4th Street
4. Bob-O-Link Drive In 25th and US 31
5. Carmichael, Carmel L. 544 Jackson Street
6. Central Park Cafeteria 1607 Central Avenue
7. Davis, Gerald I. 421 7th Street
8. Davis, June E. Mrs. 426 4th Street
9. Eighth Street Shop 129 West 8th Street
10. Farmers Home 326 3rd Street
11. Fifth Street Sandwich Shop 414 5th Street
12. Fisher, Emily E. Mrs. 317 4th Street
13. Gause Café 426 3rd Street
14. Greenlee, Pearl 1644 Orinoco Avenue
15. Harold’s Café 321 4th Street
16. Harvey’s Grill 304 3rd Street
17. Horn’s Fish Sandwich Shop 324 4th Street
18. Jerry’s Lunch 1512 McKinley Avenue
19. Kitchenette, The 906 25th Street
20. Lafayette House 1001 Lafayette Avenue
21. Lib’s Drive In Number 2 1115 25th Street
22. Lib’s Nook 534 Washington Street
23. Lucas, Merlin A. 423 4th Street
24. Mabel’s Bar & Grill 312 3rd Street
25. Mac’s Lunch 1632 7th Street
26. Mercury Drive In 1830 National Road
27. McQueen, Roy E. 320 3rd Street
28. Midway Café 1202 7th Street
29. Mildred’s Cafeteria 224 Jackson Street
30. Milnes Grill 272 Oak Street
31. Nick’s Drive In 3007 National Road
32. Palms Café 425-27 4th Street
33. Paul’s Café 631 Jackson Street
34. Pine Knott Grill 2531 Ohio Avenue
35. Plantation Bar 302 8th Street
36. Ruby’s Drive In 1521 State Street
37. Salley’s Lunch 2546 McKinley Avenue
38. Seventeenth Street 2024 17th Street
39. Shorty’s Lunch 601 Wilson Street
40. State Street Café 1732 State Street
41. Stine, Flossie A. Mrs. 432 4th Street
42. Suburban Grill 2221 Illinois Avenue
43. Swain 607 Washington Street
44. Tannery Lunch West end of Fifth Street
45. Taylor’s Grill 1202 Washington Street
46. Terminal Lunch 536 Jackson Street
47. Third Street Café 316 3rd Street
48. Willie Food Shop 419 5th Street

[richard]

Restaurants listed in the 1959 Columbus City Directory.

Perhaps I should put a disclaimer here at the start! Gregg and I have determined that not all business locations are listed. I generate these lists by using the Classified Business Directory in the Columbus City Directories that I have access to. Gregg knew that a tavern named Harold’s existed in the Columbus of his childhood.

I checked the street guide and Harold’s is indeed listed in that guide.

It appears that the listing in this list was a paid list and not all Businesses of that type were listed!

1. A & M Cocktail Lounge 330 3rd Street
2. Ann’s Snack Shop 1721 State Street
3. B & M Restaurant 2110 Central Avenue
4. Betty’s Lunch 2552 McKinley
5. Bills Lunch 309 4th Street
6. Bob-O-Link Drive In 25th and US 31
7. Bob-O-Link Restaurant US 31 & 46 Junction
8. Buck’s Truck Stop 3031 National Road
9. Carmichael, Carmel L. 544 Jackson Street
10. Central Park Cafeteria 1607 Central Avenue
11. Davis, Gerald I. 421 7th Street
12. Davis, June E. Mrs. 426 4th Street
13. Dixie Cream Donut & Coffee Shop 1732 State Street
14. Dog & Suds 2750 National Road
15. Eighth Street Shop 129 West 8th Street
16. Farmers Home 326 3rd Street
17. Fifth Street Sandwich Shop 414 5th Street
18. Fisher, Emily E. Mrs. 317 4th Street
19. Gause Café 426 3rd Street
20. Globe Family Restaurant 2242 State Street
21. Harold’s Café 321 4th Street
22. Horn’s Fish Sandwich Shop 324 4th Street
23. Jiffy Lunch 292 North Mapleton Avenue
24. Kitchenette, The 906 25th Street
25. Lafayette House 1001 Lafayette Avenue
26. Lib’s 534 Washington Street
27. Lucas, Merlin A. 423 4th Street
28. Mabel’s Bar & Grill 312 3rd Street
29. McQueen, Roy E. 320 3rd Street
30. Midway Café 1202 7th Street
31. Milnes Grill 272 Oak Street
32. Nick’s Drive In 3007 National Road
33. Palms Café 425-27 4th Street
34. Paul’s Café 631 Jackson Street
35. Phelp’s Restaurant 308 Jackson Street
36. Pine Knott Grill 2531 Ohio Avenue
37. Plantation Bar 302 8th Street
38. Rancho Grill 1521 State Street
39. Seventeenth Street Restaurant 2024 17th Street
40. Shorty’s Lunch 601 Wilson Street
41. Stine, Flossie A. Mrs. 432 4th Street
42. Swain Restaurant 607 Washington Street
43. Sweeney, James L. 1644 Orinoco Avenue
44. Tannery Lunch West end of Fifth Street
45. Taylor’s Grill 1202 Washington Street
46. Third Street Café 316 3rd Street
47. Thunder Bird Restaurant 1830 National Road
48. Twenty Fifth Street Grill 1115 25th Street
49. Walters Grill RD 5 (Franklin) * That’s how it’s listed.
50. Welmer’s, Bob Restaurant 2221 Illinois Avenue
51. Willie Food Shop 419 5th Street

[richard]

Gregg sent a question wanting to know where The Snack Shop was located in the downtown, in the early to middle 1960's.

I found a listing for The Snack Shop at 432 4th. Street in the 1965 Columbus City Directory. The location of 432 was on the north side of 4th street between Washington and Franklin Street and sat between the Lego Typewriter Company at 430 4th and the Irvin N. Hendershot Jewelry Store at 434 4th Street.

The 1959 Columbus City Directory lists the Mrs. Flossie A. Stine Restaurant at the 432 4th Street location.

The 1965 Columbus City Directory names lists has June E. Davis as the operator. Looking further in the names list, I find Donald V. (June E.) Davis as the operator of David Tavern which is located at 330 Jackson Street.

[David Sechrest]

I received an email from a person inquiring about the name of the root beer stand at the intersection of 31 and Central. There was a Texaco station on the corner and the Thunderbird Restaurant was across the street.

I don't remember any of these places. Can anyone help, and also provide the year?

Thanks!