Central Drive-In 1957

Four interior shots at the Central Drive-In from 1957. Located across from (then) Central High School on Elizabeth Avenue, this soda shop was a popular after school hangout. Opened in 1953, it would become Jimmie's at the end of the decade.

Restaurant Postcards - 1989

"Tastefully Charlotte" was a series of six photo postcards issued as a set in 1989. From the lens of Diane Davis, they represented a great profile of several iconic Charlotte eateries of the time. The good news is that today, half of them are still in operation and thriving.

Ivey's Soda Shop

A nice peek into the popular soda shop located in the downtown Ivey's. Soda shops were all the rage during this time, and the one at Ivey's was one of the most popular in the city. These images are all from the mid-1950's.

1997's Top Restaurants

An interesting look back from 1997 of the 50 best restaurants in Charlotte. The eating landscape has changed tremendously over the last 15 years. So many of these places listed are long gone.

Preacher's Restaurant

Photo courtesy of Trent Land. Trent says he never went inside but snapped this great photo in the early-1970's. Eatery was located at 10th St and N. Graham. Up until the mid 1990's, Charlotte was full of similar places. A great shot of an era that is now gone in Charlotte's downtown landscape. Thanks, Trent!

O'Neill's Fine Food & Spirits

O'Neill's was located at 118 W. 5th St (between Tryon and Church). It was a popular Irish bar owned by Mike O'Neill. It was in operation throughout the 1980's. The above picture is from 1983.

Gus' Central Diner

Mid-40's aerial of the 1500 block of Central Ave (diner in center)

Close-up of the diner from the top photo

Mid-40's ad - great interior shot!

Gus' Central Diner was located at 1509 Central Ave (near the intersection of The Plaza & Central). Run by Gus Thevaos, the diner ran from the 1940's through the 1960's. The diner was originally a street car and was converted in the 1930's and moved to the Central Ave location.

Gus' son Peter notes about the aerial photo - "It was the mid 40's during WWll. My dad's diner is in the center, 'Gus' Central Diner' (1509 Central). To the right was my uncle John's Ice Cream Store. Our house in the background and dad's 42 Ford Coupe is in the drive. To the left is Ed Garmon's Pure Oil Station, now Fuel Pizza. Across the street on the corner is Harris Clothing Store. Next door was Harris Bros. Grocery Store (Pre Super Market, pre Harris Teeter). Pic and Pay and Family Dollar started later a few doors up Central. There was also Fred May's Hardware Store and Hahn's Bakery and a parsonage that Rev. Sink I believe and his family lived there. The Plaza Theater was a block East.".

Much thanks to Peter Thevaos for the great images as well as his recollections of the diner and the area!

Southpark area 1994

An interesting look back at the various eating options in the Southpark area in 1994. Good list of the then-tenants of the Southpark Mall food court as well.

Thanks to Beth Nackashi for providing the scans for this post!

Sandwichess

Sandwichess opened in 1980 at the corner of Kings Dr and E. Morehead St (current site of a map shop). It was owned by Nick Panos - he had had previous success across the street with the popular 20th Century Fox Disco. Sandwichess would prove to be very short-lived-closing after just a few years. Nick's biggest success would lie ahead with Nickyo's Rodeo on Providence Rd.

Hearth & Embers

Nice 1970's shot of the Hearth & Embers Restaurant located inside the Manger Inn.

The Gondola

1968 exterior shot

1968 interior shot

1981 shot of the exterior mural

Late 70's menu

Business card

1959 ad

1960 ad

1967 ad

1968 ad

1972 ad

1973 ad

1975 ad

"It's like a shortcut to Italy" was the slogan of The Gondola. Located at the intersection of W. Morehead and Wilkinson Blvd, The Gondola opened in 1953 and had an impressive run over the span of four decades. Owned by Steve and Gus Economos, the restaurant featured what they described as an "Italian Old World Atmosphere" and a very traditional Italian menu. They were most famous for their pizza and lasagna as well as their selection of up to 20 different spaghetti sauces. The "Pizza El Greco" - featuring feta and provolone cheeses and oregano - was a popular house specialty.

Revisions!!!

These posts have been updated with ads and photos--click on the links below and then scroll to the bottom of each page to see the revisions.

The Open Kitchen

Kofinas

Laura's

Herlocker's

Amber House

Presto Grill/Nixon Bros. Steakhouse

Stork Restaurants **HALL OF FAME EATERIES**

Independence Blvd location

Independence Blvd interior

Freedom Village location

1963 ad

1965 ad

1967 ad

The "Chateaubriand crest"

Interior shots of the Chateaubriand (above three)

1961 letter announcing the third Stork location at Freedom Village

Promo flier for the Stork Freedom Village location (above four pictures)

1959 ad

1962 ad

1968 ad

Throughout the 1950's and '60's, one of the most popular places to eat in Charlotte was The Stork. Owned by Joseph Antoon and Raymond Kaleel, they opened the first Stork on Kings Dr in 1946. They quickly became known for quality food at reasonable prices.

In 1955, they would open what would become their flagship location on Independence Blvd next to the newly opened Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium. If you were going to a show at either venue, you most likely were going to The Stork before the event. Frequent Stork guest Arthur Pendleton remembers the Stork on Independence as being more modern compared to other eateries of the day. With the high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows and curtains, it had a more open, dramatic feel to it. As you walked in to the dining room, Jerry Shriver was to the left on an elevated platform playing the organ for the diners' enjoyment. Arthur recalls the "Chef's suggestion" section of the menu being the most popular and he routinely ordered the chopped steak with mushroom dressing for the low price of $1.47 (low even by late-1950's standards).

Mirroring the growth and expansion of Charlotte, a third Stork was opened in 1961 at the newly opened Freedom Village. To mirror suburban-tastes, this location would also feature a coffee shop, a dining room just for men eating lunch (the "Esquire Room") and a newly revamped menu featured a wider offering of choices (referred to as "Continental dishes"). This location would also be the only one open on Sundays. In the mid-60's, a fourth eatery was opened called the Chateaubriand Continental Steakhouse. Charcoal steakhouses were hot at the time and the fourth location followed this trend.

The era of the Stork came to a close at the end of the '60's. The Kings Dr location had closed in the mid-60's, and the entire group closed by the end of the decade. Valentino's would open successfully in the old Independence location, and Slugs Rib would open in the Chateaubriand location.

Thanks to Arthur Pendleton for his invaluable memories for this post!