Stamey's **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

Early '70's photo

1976 review

For 27 years, Stamey's was a downtown fixture at 841 N. Tryon St. It was opened on September 9, 1957 by John Stamey. A year later he would be joined by his brother Ben and Ben's wife, Ruth. The restaurant was popular for its country breakfasts and home-cooked entrees. At breakfast, people would line up for Stamey's grits and hash-browned potatoes. Lunch and dinner would bring out the North Carolina country ham plate with natural gravy, the homebaked corn sticks, and a multitude of fresh vegetables. Its regulars ranged from downtown workers to a menagerie of Charlotte's public figures. 

John and Ben had begun their restaurant careers at the start of the '50's when they co-managed the legendary Drum Restaurant in Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood. When they opened Stamey's, they bought dinnerware that matched the dinnerware at the Drum in case the restaurant failed and they had to return to the Drum. 

Originally Stamey's was both a sit-down restaurant and a drive-in restaurant with curb service. They served home-cooking indoors and fast-food fare outdoors. The interior was very unusual. There was a large "Jesus Saves" neon-sign on one wall and the menu boasted prayers for Catholics, Jews, and Protestants. The Stamey's also listed their life's mission on the menu--"to serve the Lord and all hungry customers". The restaurant boasted three dining rooms--the front room with booths and a lunch counter, and two rooms in the back with wood paneled walls and tables.

John and Ben would run the restaurant until their deaths in the late-70's. Ruth would continue at the helm until Stamey's close on March 30, 1984.

Skyland Restaurant

Mid-70's photo of the original Skyland

1969 ad

The current Skyland Restaurant

Jimmy Kakavitsas enjoying breakfast (served all day!)

Skyland Restaurant has had two lives in Charlotte restaurant history. The original Skyland Restaurant was opened by legendary Charlotte restauranteur Pete Politis in 1960 on South Blvd (near the intersection of Woodlawn Rd). Similar to other restaurants of the time (Knife & Fork, San Remo), Skyland was a family restaurant featuring everything from pizza and fried seafood to fried chicken and other traditional home-cooked classics. The original Skyland would run for 15 years, closing in 1975.

In 1994, Jimmy Kakavitsas reopened Skyland Restaurant about a 1/2 mile from the original location. Jimmy had worked for many years under Politis at several of Politis' different restaurants (including Tanner's). With the assistance of Politis, Kakavistis (along with partner Jimmy Apostolou) reopened Skyland in the former Plantation Family Restaurant location. The menu is similar to the original Skyland's menu, but the restaurant is opened 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Even though Pete Politis has long since retired from the restaurant business, he can be found most days at Skyland greeting customers just like in the old days.

Old Hickory House **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

The entry-way into the dining room

The pit

All old-fashioned restaurants still sport the large candy selection at the register

Original cartoon of the founding brothers

Plaque in the entry-way dedicated to the founding Carter brothers

Phone switch board decorates the dining room

Smoke never smelled so wonderful!

Hickory logs in the woodshed

Old Hickory House #2

Current menu

1972 menu

1978 menu for Old Hickory House #2

1959 ad

1968 ad

1969 ad

1978 ad

Thanks to Rick Fisher for his assistance with all of the photos

One of the best places to get Lexington-style barbecue in Charlotte is the legendary Old Hickory House. The Old Hickory House (originally just called "The Hickory House") has been run by the Carter family since its inception in 1957. It was originally located on Thrift Rd (near the intersection of Freedom Dr and Morehead St). In 1972, the restaurant was moved to its current location near UNCC. Very little has changed over the years--the dining room still sports the Consetoga wagon lamps over each booth, the wood saws and longhorn-bull horns still  adorn the walls, and the famous wood fire pit (that's part of the dining room) still cooks the meats. Even the turquoise dining room chairs are original.

The main reason everyone crowds into the Old Hickory House is for the food. The tomato-based barbecue sauce is still made per a secret recipe obtained in Alabama in the 1940's. The remarkable Brunswick stew is an old Carter family recipe. The pork, beef, and chicken are still smoked over a wood fire using aged hickory and oak logs (the brick fireplace smoker is one of the more unusual things in any Charlotte restaurant).

For many years there was a second Old Hickory House location located on the I-85 service road near the airport. This location closed in the mid-90's. There is also two Old Hickory Houses in Atlanta. Though they are not connected to the Charlotte Old Hickory House, they were started by a relative of the Carter family (their Uncle Bill Black).

As things change with the growth and expansion of the University area, the Old Hickory House continues to thrive by keeping things exactly as they were when they opened this location 36 years ago.

Herlocker's Park Drive-In **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

Late-90's photo of the main building (the drive-in is to the left)

The arrow points the way to great food

The famous burger nickname

1996 photo of David Herlocker

Above nine photos all courtesy of Karl Golden (Thanks, Karl!)

Rose Walls worked at Herlocker's for 29 years starting in 1977

1996 sample menu

Herlocker's Park Drive-In opened in 1960 on Hwy 29 near the UNCC campus. Owned by Lester and Loveine Herlocker, the drive-in originally only had four booths and a bar. Herlocker's was famous for their barbecue, but also became known for their burgers, hot dogs, home-cooked meals, and onion rings. Their burger was so popular it earned the famous nickname "A Meal On A Bun". Herlocker's would undergo two expansions, eventually having seating for 100 people. Along the way, the drive-in would be run by the Herlocker's sons- David, Lester, and Tony.

Herlocker's would close in August 2006. In October 2006, the building would be torn down and a Cook-Out fast food restaurant would open on the site.

When Herlocker's opened in 1960, their only neighbors in this desolate area were the University and the Charlotte Motor Speedway-both also just really getting started. Eventually, this area would become one of the fastest growing areas of the city. Despite the tremendous changes, Herlocker's was always a constant--offering great food at reasonable prices with personable service.

REVISIONS -- 1-19-2009 Late-'90's photos!

Revisions - 10-16-11

1962 ad

1967 ad

1969 ad

1969 ad

1974 ad

1976 ad