Green's Lunch **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

Green's Lunch is Charlotte's oldest and longest-running eating establishment. It began life in 1926 (though some say it was actually late-1925) when Robert Green bought an existing lunch stand and, with about 12 stools, started selling hot dogs for a nickel each. Green's is located in downtown's Third Ward neighborhood on Fourth St (just three blocks off of Tryon). The business remained in the Green family until August 1975 when they sold it to the Sikiotis family.

Green's has always been famous for their hot dogs. Their "all the way" dog (with homemade chili, slaw, and onions) is legendary. Along with hot dogs, Green's is popular for their daily breakfast and their fried baloney and livermush sandwiches. 

Green's has always been a Charlotte institution. When Robert Green passed away in 1945, his daughter-in-law Mary took over the operations. When Mary added her homemade chili in the 1960's, Green's popularity skyrocketed. Mary (or "Mama" as everyone called her) was beloved in Charlotte--she was known as the "Hot Dog Queen" and was featured in several of Charlotte's Christmas parades. After she sold the restaurant in 1975, she continued to work there for another 16 years. She spent most of the '90's working as a greeter and cashier at the Barclay Cafeteria at Belk-Southpark.

Little has changed at Green's over the past 82 years- chili was added in the 60's, slaw in the '70's, a renovation to the dining room in the '80's. Green's is the one place that has seen almost every incarnation of Charlotte's constantly evolving downtown. It is remarkable that they have always flourished and have changed so little over the years.

Greystone Restaurant **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

The "Original" Greystone--

The "New" Greystone--

The Greystone Restaurant has been on South Blvd in the Sedgefield neighborhood since 1947. It has weathered everything from changing area demographics to a complete building relocation over its 60-plus year history.

The Greystone began in 1947 as a small drugstore on the corner of South Blvd and Greystone Rd. Like most area drugstores, the Greystone also sold food such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili beans. Eventually in the early-50's, the Greystone switched from a drugstore with a lunch counter into a full-service restaurant. In 1971, the original owner sold the business to his son-in-law Andy Koutsokalis who has been at the helm ever since. 

The Greystone would close in the Summer of 2000. The original corner-side building was torn down and, in the Fall of 2001, the Greystone reopened 200 yards away as the anchor of a small strip center at the back of the original parking lot. The interior of the new building mirrors the old one--booths encircle the room's perimeter and four-seat tables fill the rest.

The Greystone has always been popular for their home-cooking. From the breakfast with the great country ham (billed as "a Nice Piece of Country Ham" on the menu) to lunch and dinner which feature the classic "meat-and-threes" dishes (main course with soup and two vegetables), the Greystone has a very loyal following. 

Though South Blvd is in a constant state of change and revitalization (of which the Greystone embraced with their new building), everything inside this eatery has stayed almost the same over the last 60 years. 

Mangione's Ristorante **HALL OF FAME EATERY**

1984 interior shot

1985 ad

1989 ad

Your hosts-- Roberto and Anna

Original matchbook (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

Original matchbook from the East Blvd location (courtesy of Robert McEwen)

Early-70's photo of La Strada on Central Ave

mid-70's ad

Mangione's Ristorante opened on East Boulevard in the Dilworth neighborhood in 1977. Owners Roberto and Anna Mangione had become well-known on the Charlotte restaurant scene when they had opened the first La Strada on Central Avenue several years earlier. Mangione's would be a shift from a pizza-oriented restaurant to a more formal eatery. 

Mangione's was located in the former location of a Li'l General Convenience Store. The exterior was renovated to create Mangione's signature stuccoed arches and the interior was became known for the reproductions of classic Italian art that adorned the walls. The menu featured cuisine from both Northern and Southern Italy. Their signature dishes included black linguine with seafood, veal with mushrooms and cognac, and shrimp with pesto over angel hair.

Mangione's was a family affair. Roberto and Anna were the hosts who knew everyone and spent their time moving throughout the dining room chatting up the diners and insuring that dinner moved smoothly. Son Roberto Jr helped manage and daughter Sara was the hostess.

Mangione's would run for 27 years eventually closing on January 27, 2004. Mangione's was noteworthy for being one of the first Charlotte Italian restaurant operated by Italians (all other Italian restaurants prior to 1977 were primarily Greek-owned). Just like Roberto and Anna had introduced Charlotte to Sicilian pizza with La Strada years earlier, with Mangione's, they introduced Charlotte to a entirely new style of Italian dining that would forever change the face of Charlotte Italian restaurants.