1962 ad
1969 ad
1973 ad
mid-'70's ad
1975 ad
1980 ad (courtesy of Jeff McEwen)
1980 ad (courtesy of Jeff McEwen)
1983 ad
1985 ad
1961 interior shot
1972 photo of the entry area
Behind the register in this 1992 photo
1992 dining room shot
1989 postcard of the exterior
Close-up of the sign on the front of the building
Front of the building hasn't changed throughout the years (photo courtesy of David at Groceteria)
Only a 1/2 mile from downtown
The famous cyclist from above
The dining rooms have not changed at all
Back dining room with statues
Tour posters and an old photo of Charlotte on the walls
The wall of celebrity guests-- see anyone famous?
Close-up of the celebrity wall
Ornate decorations are everywhere
Original 1963 menu
A wall of pennants behind wrought-iron trim
More pennants
A collage of buttons
Original tray from the car-hop days
The Star Lunch in 1925 was an early family-run downtown restaurant
Message above the doors as you enter
Guard standing at attention as you enterThe Open Kitchen was opened in 1952 by Speros Kokenes. At the time it was a hamburger drive-in with curb service only. Speros' brother Steve joined him in 1955 and began the conversion to the indoor Italian restaurant as its known today. It was called the Open Kitchen because customers were invited to walk into the kitchen at any time.
The Open Kitchen introduced Charlotte to the first pizza and the first Greek salad. The restaurant has also always been known for its eclectic interior decor--travel posters, flags, wrought-iron, plastic statues, mirrors, Mexican tiles, red and white checked tablecloths, college pennants, and an large wooden octagonal chandelier in the front dining-room. Also famous is the miniature cyclist that peddles across a high wire above the heads of diners (added in 1958, originally it was a peddling monkey, then a man, now a bear). Above the register is a collage of various celebrities who have dined at the Open Kitchen and left a signed 8 X 10 photo (Pat Boone, Charles Kuralt, Vincent Price, and Gary Sandy (of "WKRP in Cincinnati" fame) among others).
Despite bring located in a heavy-industrial district about a half mile west of downtown, the Open Kitchen has become a Charlotte institution and continues to flourish.
1965 ad
1967 ad
1968 photo
1969 ad
1970 postcard - note the cool original streetside sign
