7-Eleven

Cotswold location 1985

1981 ad

1981 ad

1986 ad

"Manager of the Week" ads 1987

Charlotte has spent more than 2 decades without 7-Eleven. In the late-80's, the Southland Corporation sold off all Charlotte locations due to financial issues in the company. This spring, 7-Eleven returned to  Charlotte and replaced all On The Runs and Sam's Marts. Though not a restaurant per se, 7-Eleven was always a great place for snacks and treats (their Slurpees were part of everyone's youth). Enjoy this look back to the 1980's when 7-Eleven was a mainstay in the area. Welcome back! Oh, thank heaven indeed!

1983

An interesting photo essay of various Charlotte eateries from 1983. Only one currently exists today. Back in the early '80's, though, these were all popular restaurants. Do you remember any of these?

Park Lanes

One of the newest hot spots in town is the recently renovated Park Lanes on Montford Dr. Featuring an indoor lounge and two patios and an entirely overhauled building, the renamed "Ten at Park Lanes" is once again hopping. Originally built in 1959, Park Lanes was immediately known for its drive-in style cuisine -- toting some of the best burgers, hot dogs, and onion rings in the city. The cuisine appears to be a focal point again -- this time on a more upscale note. What better way to celebrate the return of this landmark bowling alley as a food destination than a series of great photo ads from the 1960's!

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.