The Oriental Restaurant **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

Both shots above from the W. Trade St. location - 1960 

Independence Blvd location - 1968

Above 3 shots all from the mid-70's (all courtesy of Ronnie Yee)

1950's ashtray

1977 menu

1948 ad

1951 ad

1954 ad

1958 ad

1966 ad

The Oriental Restaurant opened at 126 W. Trade St in 1923. It would prove to be one of Charlotte's most famous and popular Chinese restaurants. It would also be one of Charlotte's longest running eateries -- staying in business for a span of seven decades. The Oriental was noted for its private booths, almond cookies, and a walking bridge over the indoor Koi pond. In 1967, the restaurant moved to E Independence Blvd (at Morningside Dr) after a fire destroyed the original location. It would flourish through the '80's before closing for good. 

The Open Kitchen - Pt II

From the Open Kitchen's webpage comes this great painting of a nighttime shot of the restaurant with downtown Charlotte in the distance. Click here for the original blog post. 

As always, click on the photo for a larger version...

Spoon's Ice Cream Parlor

Great mid-70's shot

Elizabeth Spoon a.k.a. "The Ice Cream Lady"

Spoon's opened on Hawthorne Lane in 1929 and was owned by Whitney and Elizabeth Spoon. Elizabeth earned the nickname "The Ice Cream Lady" from the generations of families that flocked to Spoon's for all of her homemade flavors. The Spoons would sell the business in 1978 and food was added to the menu. Ice cream was still served but not from Elizabeth's famous recipes. The standing building is all that currently remains of the Spoon's legacy and ice cream.

More 1950's shots...

A few more pictures of some of the teen hot-spots from the mid-50's. Click on the title to link back to the original posts.

Ivey's Soda Shop

Central Drive-In

Dairy Queen - Pt II

An interesting ad for the Central Avenue Dairy Queen from 1956. Not sure what the concept is they were aiming for, but it makes for a memorable ad. 

Click here for the original Dairy Queen post.

The Rebel Room

The Rebel Room was a lunch spot located inside the Liggetts Rexall Drug Store. Located on the Square, this was a  popular eatery during the 1950's.  

Tanner's Snack Bar - Pt II

Finally a picture of the famous Tanner's sign! This shot is from 1971. Also a nice look at one block in downtown Charlotte in the early '70's. Click here for the original Tanner's post.

AutoBurger

From 1960 comes this great picture of AutoBurger which was located at 4100 N. Independence Blvd. Also from 1960 is a sample menu. 

Barclay Cafeteria - 1968

Super 1968 ad for the Barclay Cafeteria on Independence Blvd. Original post here.

Welcome Soldier!

From a booklet called "Welcome Soldier! to Charlotte, North Carolina" comes this list of restaurants from 1942. The booklet was given to visiting soldiers during WWII and contained helpful info about Charlotte and things to do while in town. Great look at the dining scene in the Charlotte 1940's.

Booklet cover

First page of booklet

The Penguin - Pt II

The Penguin's website features this great shot from the early days. Click here for the original Penguin post. 

La Roma Ristoranti

La Roma Ristoranti was a popular Italian restaurant located on the corner of West Blvd and Remount Rd. Diners were promised a true "Little Italy" experience. Its heyday was during the late-1960's. The restaurant was destroyed in an arson-related fire in October 1975.

Myers Park Pharmacy

A look back to 1930 and an interesting ad from the Myers Park Pharmacy promoting their "delightful Sodas and Sandwiches". Up until the late 1990's, the drugstore lunch counter was a popular Charlotte eating spot. Back in 1930, you could also go next door and putt a few holes, too.

Stamey's - Pt II

From March 30, 1984 comes a nice article detailing the closing of Stamey's -- a downtown fixture for decades. Click here for the original post.

Kofinas Snack Bar - Pt II

Great article from when Kofinas Snack Bar closed in December 1981. Click here for the original Kofinas post.

Hearth and Embers Restaurant

Nice 1960's interior shot of the Hearth and Embers Restaurant that was located inside the Manger Motor Inn at N. Tryon and 10th St. Click here for a 1970's interior shot.

Barringer Hotel

1965 shot of the Barringer Hotel's famous elegant dining room

1941 shot

The Barringer Hotel was located on the southeast corner of North Tryon and Eighth Streets. It was the last to be built of the original Charlotte downtown fine hotels. Lawrence and Flora Barringer opened the hotel on December 14, 1940 and named it in honor of Lawrence's father, William R. Barringer. Its elegant dining room was a popular dining spot for lodgers and residents alike. It would fall on hard times in the 1970's, changing hands frequently with its incarnation as the Cavalier Inn through the mid-'70's being the longest. The building still stands today. No longer a hotel, it currently houses homeless women in need.