Early 1970's

Krispy Kreme at Independence and Hawthorne

Lunch counter at the downtown Belk's

Oakhurst Country Club

Oakhurst Country Club

The Penguin on Thomas Ave (during bleaker times)

Downtown Matthews

Queen's Restaurant at 235 S Tryon St

S&W's "Silver Grill" at Charlottetown Mall

A fascinating early-70's photo essay of various Charlotte eateries. Some are unknown while others are labeled. An interesting look back from 40 years ago.

Ivey's - Late 1950's

A return to the downtown Ivey's store in the late-1950's. The first two pictures feature the Ivey's restaurant of the time while the bottom showcases the famous soda shop (original post here).

7-Eleven

Cotswold location 1985

1981 ad

1981 ad

1986 ad

"Manager of the Week" ads 1987

Charlotte has spent more than 2 decades without 7-Eleven. In the late-80's, the Southland Corporation sold off all Charlotte locations due to financial issues in the company. This spring, 7-Eleven returned to  Charlotte and replaced all On The Runs and Sam's Marts. Though not a restaurant per se, 7-Eleven was always a great place for snacks and treats (their Slurpees were part of everyone's youth). Enjoy this look back to the 1980's when 7-Eleven was a mainstay in the area. Welcome back! Oh, thank heaven indeed!

1983

An interesting photo essay of various Charlotte eateries from 1983. Only one currently exists today. Back in the early '80's, though, these were all popular restaurants. Do you remember any of these?

Park Lanes

One of the newest hot spots in town is the recently renovated Park Lanes on Montford Dr. Featuring an indoor lounge and two patios and an entirely overhauled building, the renamed "Ten at Park Lanes" is once again hopping. Originally built in 1959, Park Lanes was immediately known for its drive-in style cuisine -- toting some of the best burgers, hot dogs, and onion rings in the city. The cuisine appears to be a focal point again -- this time on a more upscale note. What better way to celebrate the return of this landmark bowling alley as a food destination than a series of great photo ads from the 1960's!

Central Drive-In 1957

Four interior shots at the Central Drive-In from 1957. Located across from (then) Central High School on Elizabeth Avenue, this soda shop was a popular after school hangout. Opened in 1953, it would become Jimmie's at the end of the decade.

Restaurant Postcards - 1989

"Tastefully Charlotte" was a series of six photo postcards issued as a set in 1989. From the lens of Diane Davis, they represented a great profile of several iconic Charlotte eateries of the time. The good news is that today, half of them are still in operation and thriving.

Ivey's Soda Shop

A nice peek into the popular soda shop located in the downtown Ivey's. Soda shops were all the rage during this time, and the one at Ivey's was one of the most popular in the city. These images are all from the mid-1950's.

1997's Top Restaurants

An interesting look back from 1997 of the 50 best restaurants in Charlotte. The eating landscape has changed tremendously over the last 15 years. So many of these places listed are long gone.

Preacher's Restaurant

Photo courtesy of Trent Land. Trent says he never went inside but snapped this great photo in the early-1970's. Eatery was located at 10th St and N. Graham. Up until the mid 1990's, Charlotte was full of similar places. A great shot of an era that is now gone in Charlotte's downtown landscape. Thanks, Trent!