1970 photo--Tanner's briefly closed for renovations under new ownership
1974 photo of Tanner's on North Tryon St.
Front sign of the remaining Tanner's north of downtown
Sidewall sign of the remaining Tanner's north of downtown
As far as institutions in downtown Charlotte go, Tanner's Snack Bar is at the top of the list. Tanner's was an unassuming eatery frequented by all types of downtown workers (from construction workers to bank officers). With several locations in downtown Charlotte, Tanner's became popular for their footlong hot dogs and cream cheese sandwiches. The hot dogs were served with chili, mustards, and onions, and the cream cheese sandwiches were served with everything from olives to pineapples and came on raisin toast. Tanner's was most famous for their hot-shelled peanuts which accompanied every sandwich (served in little wax paper bags) and their fresh-squeezed orange juice (you could watch from the outside window as they squeezed the juice). Tanner's was at their peak downtown from the 1940's through the 1970's (all downtown locations closed in the early-80's). In the mid-90's, a new Tanner's popped up on North Tryon (north of downtown- near 36th St). About six years ago, another location opened on Old Pineville Rd near Woodlawn (since closed).
One of my favorite places to eat as a child in the 1960s after shopping downtown with my Mother
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember their great punch, or better still what juices did they combine to make it?
ReplyDeleteWOW! Now that brings back memories. I recall that "punch" drink as my very favorite. I have no idea what the combination was but I would venture to guess that it was primarily an orange and grape juice drink with perhaps some pineapple and maybe some apple juice blended in. What a great memory. Thanks for reviving those thoughts from 50+ years ago.
DeleteI grew up in Charlotte and often ate at Tanner's downtown. I distinctly remember the punch. It was made of equal parts orange juice, grape juice, and pineapple juice. We often made it ourselves at home.
DeleteThe secret punch is grape juice and orange juice.
DeleteI am 64 years old; as a very young child my mother would occassionaly take my brother and I to town (Charlottee) and treat us to lunch at Tanners. It was always a Tanner's Hot Dog with slaw and chili sauce along with orange juice to quinch our thrist. It was a very special treat for us and forever in my memory. This spring I will be visiting Charlotte and would like to know where the old place was as well as the new location.
ReplyDeleteWe lived near the Statesville Avenue Baptist Church (we were members of the church too), which I want to visit as well. My grandparents had a farm (I spent quite a lot of time there as a child)it too was off Statesville Avenue in Charlotte close to a very big milk farm. I don't know how to begin to find the old farm place. If you have any idea about a milk farm on Statesville Ave. would you be good enough to give me some info. regarding that too. I'm so excited to be able to visit Charlotte (where I spent most of my childhood). As well excited to visit Tanners and have a tasty hot dog with slaw and chili sauce. (I think, I'll scratch the orange juice...with chili it may not any longer agree with my digestive system.) Thank you.
There is no longer a Tanners anywhere that I know of. I am 65 years old and was born and raised in CLT. I ate many of the hot dogs, beer nuts and orange juice. Those days are gone forever.
DeleteI have a question did tanners in the early years sell hot dogs to blacks in a wooden shade
DeleteTanners had the best hamburgers in town. I usually ate lunch there every day back in the mid 60's. I live in Wilmington now, but I still think of Tanners often. Haven't found a burger as tasty as theirs in over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteTanners Snake Bar! As a young boy growing up in Charlotte, my friends and I would ride the bus downtown and the 1st place we would go was the Army Navy Surplus Store just off the square on E. Trade St. Then to Tanners for lunch where the counters were stainless steel. You would order an orange juice or punch and they would pump it from these big chrome pumps with a faucet into a cone cup sitting in a metal holder. They would throw you hot peanuts in a little wax paper bag to have with your juice. The hot dogs were the best in the world with chili, slaw and onions. That was back in the mid 60's when Charlotte was a different, more peaceful place. Fond memories!
ReplyDeletewill someone PLEASE Bring a Tanner's back!!! I live in Bladenboro , NC now...but the best hot dogs and oj in the world...Surely someone has their recipes.....and could open another Tanners!!! LUMBERTON or ELIZABETHTOWN, NC would be great....you would get all that Myrtle Beach and Wilmington traffic...... FRIED PEANUTS........yummy!!!
ReplyDeletePlease give us a TANNER'S AGAIN!!!
ReplyDeleteMy memory is that, in addition to finely chopped onions and chili and mustard and ketchup,they had finely chopped slaw on request. Delicious!
ReplyDelete