Late-'60's coffee shop menu (courtesy of Steve Balsley--thanks!!!)
Entrance to Ivey's Tulip Terrace
Entrance to Ivey's from N Tryon St
Belk's had two cafeterias and a lunch counter, Tanner's had hot dogs and peanuts, but for a true lunch experience, the Ivey's Tulip Terrace was the place to eat.
Tucked away on the fourth level of the Ivey's downtown store, the atmosphere of the Tulip Terrace was a little formal, the mood was slightly elegant, and the food was wonderful. The restaurant was a very bright and attractive room with large windows overlooking the churchyard next door and was only open for lunch. One of the most famous dishes was the deep-dish turkey pie with a homemade pastry crust. They also had the standard sandwiches and salads in addition to full-sized meals (like fried flounder and roast beef with a baked potato). The homemade strawberry pie and cinnamon ice cream were also favorites.
On the lower level of Ivey's was the Coffee Shop. A destination for a quick, affordable lunch bite, snack, or dessert. The Coffee Shop would run until 1973, when Arthur's would move across 5th Street into Ivey's and take over the space.
Ivey's closed in the late-'80's, closing a chapter on downtown shopping (and dining).
Oh my God! Post of the year! I used to love Ivey's, but I never saw the downtown store. Of course you already knew this ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat looking place. Sigh :( At least the building is still intact.
ReplyDeleteAnybody know how old that exterior photo is? It pretty much crushes my thinking that there was an Overstreet Mall bridge heading right through the front...maybe this is pre-bridge?
There was a bridge that ran from the third floors of Ivey's to Belk's. I have never seen a picture of it, but it crossed over Tryon.
ReplyDeleteI would suspect that the picture is from somewhere around 1986. In true Steve fashion, I can tell because the sneakers on the man on the left are Converse Weapon basketball shoes, which were popular in that time period.
ReplyDeleteIf the skybridge entered the store on the third floor, it could still be there when the photo was taken, because it would still be a story above the entrance.
Oh my gosh, this blog is like an absolute dream come true! I have this unholy fascination with restaurants and chains and such. Love the vintage photos as well as the McD ones. Too great!
ReplyDeleteIvey's used several logos in a short amount of time. The script logo on the exterior of the store doesn't match the one on the coffee shop menu and neither looks anything like the one used in the '70s. Not to mention the logo with the serifed letters...
ReplyDeleteI agree, Steven...very interesting. I've actually never seen the menu logo before. I *think* that all of the signage on the building today uses the, shall we say, "common" script logo. Personally, that one's my favorite -- something about the logo on the front of the building in this old picture strikes me as a little odd.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 12, I took sewing lessons at Ivey's, it was on the very top floor which looked like an unfinished loft or storeroom. I made the most hideous shirtwaist dress you every saw. AND- I rode the bus to get there!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my first jobs was selling men's suits and sportcoats in the basement of Ivey's. This was the "discount" men's department. I was 16 and was being paid $5.00 a day. I quit to work at Providence Men's Store on a 7% commission basis, a much better deal for me.
ReplyDeleteMartin F.
How nostalgic! My grandmother worked at Tulip Terrace. I have one of the menus which is quite entertaining. A Coca-cola was only 15 cents and the most expensive thing on the menu was 95 cents, which seemed pricey back then.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother Frances Bell worked at the Coffee Shop and the Terrace and I have fond memories from my early childhood (up through early adulthood) of visiting her at work. This evening I was trying to remember the name of the restaurant she worked in before the Terrace and searching I stumbled across this post. Thanks for the memories! Aloha from Chuck in Hawaii...
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