Me, I’m kind of hit and miss. Some I do, some I don’t.
The Eppes Essen, 327 N. Superior St. Eppes Essen, which means “something to eat,” opened in 1939 by Harry Levinson and closed in 1984 by his sons, Manny and Sidney, who took over the business. The Blade’s Seymour Rothman can tell that story better than I can, however.
The building still stands today.
Dyer’s Chop House, a real shining light downtown for the longest time. Dyers could trace its beginnings to 1905, and spent 76 years at its 216 N. Superior location until it closed in 1993 after a slow and steady decline. The Blade’s food critic loved it in 1991, but was panning Dyer’s a year later as inconsistent and “like watching the descent into old age of a dear old aunt or uncle.” Dyer’s was always a good birthday dinner request for a kid in 1960s-70s Toledo.
Did you know that until 1972, Dyer’s was strictly men only at lunch? It took a U.S. District Court ruling to overturn that little tradition.
White Hut and Suzy-Q Donuts, Secor and Sylvania. I ate there. That’s about it. I can only guess it was a hopping place in the ’50s but by the late 1970s it was kind of a ghost town, a relic to an earlier era.
McDonald’s, Secor Road, circa 1965. While the block card collection says this is the McDonald’s at 3128 W. Central, I think it’s the one at 3138 Secor Road, though obviously, this one in the picture was demolished ages ago.
“Ted’s” Hamburger Shop, Monroe and Erie. Google Maps tells me the building was still standing as of July, 2014.
A little research revealed the building dates from the late 1930s and was run by John V. Voudouris (whose uncle, Ted, originally opened the restaurant) and his son, Ted, according to John’s 2015 obituary. It closed in 2000 after a vehicle struck the building.
Kewpee Hamburgers. There are still three in Lima, but Toledo had a few of these. This one was at 2248 Monroe Street. It is now a vacant lot.
Places I wish I could find a picture of:
Frank Unkle’s. Apparently the Toledo Zoo recently bought the former site of that restaurant.
The Willows, 4844 Monroe St., just east of the Franklin Park Mall. Can’t tell you when it closed but I can definitely tell you when it opened, according to this ad they ran the day before: Thursday, May 6, 1948.
Farrell’s at the Franklin Park Mall. They still exist but are in California.
Dominic’s Italian Restaurant, 2121 South Reynolds Rd., undoubtedly dragged down by the sinking of Southwyck.
Brauer’s (the Colony, right at Central and Monroe) or Siegel’s delicatessens (somewhere in the Kenwood area, if I recall correctly).
The old Dudley’s at 415 S. Reynolds Road that stood from 1955-2000. It is gone now, too, as I understand it, and is now an Indian restaurant!
And finally, the quaint Green Derby at Monroe and Sylvania, which closed in 2000. It was owned by the Kostopulos brothers, according to this obit from 2012. They turned up in The Blade’s coverage of the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes:
Want to reminisce more about restaurants in Toledo? Click here to be whisked away to 1980!
And here’s a brand new post about more 1970s Toledo restaurants!
Loved the Fish and Chips at Scotty’s on Upton Ave across from Devilbiss HS in late 1950’s.
Remember the little diner at the corner of Upton and Georgia? The kids who skipped school would go over there.
Porch of the Maidens
Hello, do you have any information on a place called Hot Dog John’s, owner John Von Scrucione,, Scrutian,, nor sure of the spelling, Thanks Don
Don – i rember going there in my teens i re.e.ber as “Hot Dog Johnnys”. From an old 88yo antique:)
On Cherry Street?
Yes, I was there! Maybe more than once! Wow! I was looking for another restaurant, and found this one.
Me and my mother worked there all the way till Gale Astles closed it. I was a busboy there from 1984 to the closing.
Do you remember a Chinese restaurant on Upton? I don’t know how to spell it but it was pronounced Horse-a-guy.
Anyone remember the Sherbrooke restaurant Hannah Sherbrooke and Monroe in Toledo Ohio it changed to a Mexican restaurant anyone remember the name or the owner?
I think El Greco was at Sherbrooke and Monroe.
I worked there from 1978 to 1981. I remember coming into work and finding chains and a lock on the door. They cheated the staff out of three weeks of pay.
I think it’s the Beirut now-was El Greco before that.
Sherbrooke was owned by William Zouhary. The Mexican restaurant was the Acapulco.
i do.i lived in the area and they had the best Chinese food ever. they moved to Upton avenue before they closed permanently. the only other Chinese restaurants that compared are Golden Dragon and Golden Lily.
OMG! My mom worked at The Golden Lily in the late 70s! I’ve been all over and it’s still one of my favorite Chinese restaurants to this day! Is it still open? Last time I was there was in 97 I think.
Actually, does anyone remember En Japanese Steak House on Monroe Street by Franklin Park Mall? Or Eddie Lee’s?
Golden Lilly closed in downtown toledo but years later reopened across from Southwyck wma limited menu – no more pressed duck…
Not sure if it’s still around or even worth it if it’s still in south end.
I loved the almond boneless chicken and lemon chicken from the GL, also – gut as I recall from that one visit at the south end location in around 2014 – I was only able to find the ABC or lemon – but it was significantly different than what it used to be when it was available in the original downtown location.
After that one and only failed attempt at the south end location-I never went back.
Better to just remember the GL from all of those wonderful visits when it was located in the downtown store.
It was the first time I had ever eaten Chinese food – and the food was amazing as was the decor – those ornate gold relief squares up in the ceiling-it was a first impression to an entirely different culture and food that I’ll never forget.my friend Audrey and her husband took me and their daughter there for dinner on weekend evening, Friday, I believe-the wait was long,mbut well worth it back in the early half of 1987.
It is still open but now on Reynolds Road across from Amazon where the Southwyck Mall used to be.
I sure do remember Horse Say Guy ( I don’t have a clue as the the spelling, probably ends in ‘Sai Gai) That was our go-to for Chinese food when I was up to about age 14, then either they closed ( I know there was a fire involved one time), but we then started to go to Yee’s Gardens. The Yee’s menu I see on this site list their address as 4552 Monroe, more near Kroger and Secor, but for some reason I remember going there and it was more like the Church’s Chicken building near Harvest and Monroe. Maybe my memory has failed. (Is there a way to search on this great site!?)
It was at the corner of harvest and Monroe. Where the Penn Station is now
Krotzers
I found an advert in the 1950’s Ohio Bell phone book. It is “HOR SAI GAI RESAURANT; Finest Chinese and American Foods, Food Prepaird to Take Out, We Cater to Private Parties and Banquets; Toledo’s Newest Chinese Restuarant, Air Cooled for Comfort, Free Parking Space, 1657 Sylvania near Jackman, LA wndale 4441.” (pg 291)
It was at Upton and Sylvania Ave. You could order in the bar on Sylvania named the Eldorado.
You’re right. It moved to where Church’s chicken was.
I remember the restaurant! Hor Sai Gai after a fire ,the restaurant served in the adjoining bar
called the Eldorado. After the restaurant closed ,the waitress I remember, worked at a chinese rest. on Reynolds road near Dorr.
My mom used to take me there
hore sigh guy
Hor sai hai. Best Chinese food ever. Loved that place!!
Hi,
My grandparents used to own that restaurant. They closed before I was born
Jeff
i remember netterfield’s fish in the 60’s-70’s just south of devilbiss hs.
The Detroit Tigers sent out players throughout the area back in the 60s. I met a young pitcher at the Secor Road McDonalds when I was a kid. It was Denny McLain.
Dudley’s originally had a little Hot Dog building near the sledding hill on the north side of Ottawa Park. It was open all summer and when there was snow for sledding. I used to walk or bike there with my dog, Toby. I would get 2 ice creams, of course!
Oh yes and the security guard who walked with a limp checking our cars to make sure we were sitting up! Lol
Hello Patt,
My name is Bob Campbell and I believe we grew together in Auburndale. Aren’t you the daughter of Mrs. Church who ran the lunch counter in Bellman’s . We also,attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church together.
Having lived in downtown Toledo in the mid-late seventies, I can happily say ‘Seen them all!’ Graduated Stautzenberger ’75 and patronized Eppes Essen daily! My only regret is not knowing what a Reuben sandwich was then, I do now, and want to cry every time I remember that. 😉
Did anyone else notice that the picture of Ted’s Hamburgers (Monroe and Erie) also shows the sign across Erie St for the “Scenic Bar,” for so many years Toledo’s most well known gay bar? Is the Scenic Bar still there?
first gay bar i went to. With my first wife. got cruised in the toilet….
The Scenic closed sometime in the Eighties, I think. It was the oldest continuously operating gay bar in Toledo at the time it closed, though the Monroe Street corner location was not the original site. You might want to check Facebook for a group called (I think) the Toledo LGBTQ Archives.
The Scenic and the Ivanhoe.
OMG yes!
Wow . . . “cruising the Hut” on Secor between McDonalds, White Hut and the Faba on any summer Friday and Saturday night in the early 60s especially after the weekly dance at the West Toledo YMCA. Good times.
My dad worked at the original McDs for a while.
I remember the West side YMCA dance and the White Butt too in the 1960’s .
I met my 1st husband at the Faba. He worked there as a bartender (moonlighting) as he was a social worker during the day. OMG. Do you know why it was called Faba? The owner’s wife’s names. Faye and Barbara
They were my neighbors in the 60s on Oak Grove
My friend’s dad and his family owned the FABA. Grevis was their last name.
Downtown by Tiedke’s/Lion’s store was a little restaurant with a big Orange in the window which signified orange juice. It may have been on a corner across from Tiedke’s or Lions. Does anyone remember that.
Was it Orange Julius?
Does anyone recall a place on Alexis near talmadge where they had pretty good spaghetti dinners to go. It’s no longer open
I can’t remember the name.
The Ground Round?
Sal’s
Sals restaurant
Sals
Sal’s
Sals?
Sal’s, owned by Sal Rokia. I think he lost interest after his son, Sam was killed in a plane crash.
Sal’s was owned by Joe and Grace Davie, Sammie died and the sold it to someone then moved to Florida
I remember how good their Pasta with garlic and butter sauce was. My wife said I’d have to sleep on the couch after eating that.
Sal’s restaurant
Would that be Sal’s on Alexis? It was there in the 60’s & 70’s… my Aunt and Uncle owned it and it was authentic Italian!
Sal’s Italian? They had a small candy counter by the cash register
Sal’s ?
Yes next to the Food Town @ Clover Lane?
It was Mr.G’s restaurant. Best spaghetti in Toledo.
Sal’s . It was an Italian restaurant
I miss Brauer’s and Siegel’s. Seigel’s was on Bancroft, and every Sunday, we went there to get stuff for Sunday brunch. Bagels, lox, smoked white fish. My mom would fry up onions to put in the bagels with cream cheese. She would fry up eggs semi hard. Those were the days. Siegel’s corned beef sandwiches yum. I miss those restaurants. There are no Jewish delis around any more. It’s a bummer. I also loved Halvah which is not to be found either. Saveway used to carry the bars. The delis carried the slabs. I can buy them over the internet. Best candy.
Me too, Bev, I just can’t get good bagels where I live.
Siegel’s on East Bancroft was our go-to place every new year’s eve for their corned beef and rye bread. That was a real quality delicatessen! We’d make beautiful sandwiches, adding cream cheese, spicy mustard, and Swiss cheese.
We’d make big platters of sandwiches and enjoy them with the old-style Vernor’s (nothing like after they changed the recipe) or Buckeye Beer while we’d play cribbage or board games until it was time to tune in to Guy Lombardo. Great memories!
Siegel’s also had a place on Monroe and Douglas. I always bought Hebrew National casing links, by the string. Their original deli, on Bancroft, became a carry out. No more Jewish deli’s in Toledo and no more Synagogues here, either. All moved to Sylvania. Too bad.
The Elbow Room had pizza and spaghetti, they just closed recently. I would love the recipe for the crust or from Angela’s on stickney ave.
It’s pie crust
When I was little, my mom and I ate at the Elbow Room on a regular basis. Great Italian food.
I remember a small place on South side of Sylvania Ave just East of Bellevue Rd in the late 1950’s called the Elbow Room was this the same place?
Elbo room moved on Alexis….the original was on Sylvania at Bellevue
The elbo room moved to Alexis rd… It is now “Whiskey and the Wolf”
Vicki, I grew up a couple blocks away from Angelo’s Restaurant (Brigham and Ketcham) and would love to get the recipe for the crust (and sauce, Iozzo’s?) myself. Additionally, if you remember the light and fluffy pizza from Dominic’s on Reynolds road (also Douglas road) and the Shakey’s Pizza Parlor (player piano) near Monroe/ Secor and Point Place.
Jimmy
I lived right across the street. Next door to Mrs Mitchel. She had a Dress Shop at her home back in the early 1960’s. Before the Bank was Built. My Dad use to get the “Bucket” of Spaghetti to go. That neighborhood was a whole different world back then.
Which restaurant had the bucket of spaghetti?
I am still looking for the recipe for Elbo Room pizza or Angelo’s. I ran into the sister of the man who owned Elbo Room while at Toledo Hospital and she has the recipe but couldn’t share it for business reasons. She was a super nice lady. I hope someday I will figure it out.
Angelo’s on Stickney great pizza!
I never had their pizza, but I loved the spaghetti sauce. I would give anything for a dish of that spaghetti. kills me.
My parents owned & named the original Elbow Room on Sylvania & Bellevue. It came when my aunt’s had their elbows on the bar thinking about a name when my mom said ELBOW ROOM. We lived above it for a few years. The original bar was re-located to the Alexis restaurant. Sure miss Angelo’s pizza .75 for a large, my boyfriend now husband bought one every week.
i grew up On Fitch not far from the Elbo Room. we ate their all the time and my childhood friend worked in the kitchen there.i know the pizza sauce recipe was a guarded secret. the pizza couldnt be beat and i continued to get it when it moved on Alexis. was sad when it closed for good.
meant we ate THERE and ordered take out also my childhood friends MOM worked in the kitchen there.
I had a friend who lived on Fitch. Her name was Jan. I would love to find her!
I went to Woodward High. The pizzas at Angelo’s were the absolute best!
Me, too. Great crust!
My Nana and Papa (Grace and Joe Davie) started the Elbow Room on Tremainsville and lived above it before retiring to Florida. They opened Sal’s on Alexis with my Dad and Mom (Sam (Sal) and Bonna Davie. They sold Sal’s years later to another Sal and his wife Aisha (not sure on the spelling).
The restaurant on Tremainsville at Oak Grove was the Venezia. The Elbo Room was on the south side of Sylvania Ave across from Bellevue.
My Grandparents lived on Westway and they would take me and my sister to the Sylvania location when we were little kids, I am 56 now. We followed the Elbo Room to Alexis road and ate there all the time until they closed in 2017, I think. My parents always took us to Angelo’s for our birthdays and we always got pizza to go on New Year’s eve. The antipasto salad and fried mushrooms and fried chicken livers were great too. I have amazing memories of my childhood at these unforgettable restaurants. I would love to know the recipe for the pizza to make for my sister.
How about Mario’s Pizza Dens… one on Dorr between Secor and Byrne… another on Arlington… a deluxe pizza was served and all you saw was white mozzarella cheese all over it… toppings under that… good once in a while… but too much mozzarella to have very often…
yes i sure do little white brick building on arlington ave. just to the east of ginos pizza also good. down the street from earlys marthon gas station and a bar/lounge that was owened by brother of lennys plazza gardens
Yes yes yes
As a little kid in the 50’s I lived on secor road near nebraska. I’d ride my bike to marios on dorr street for a small pizza.
Pure heaven. Like a first love. Mario’s pizza den was my first and best.
To me, that is what real pizza is supposed to taste like. Loved Marios….I heard that he also used a smoked Gouda with the Mozarella….could be just legeng
My Nana and Papa (Grace and Joe Davie) started the Elbow Room on Tremainsville and lived above it before retiring to Florida. They opened Sal’s on Alexis with my Dad and Mom (Sam (Sal) and Bonna Davie. They sold Sal’s years later to another Sal and his wife Aisha (not sure on the spelling).
Can you share the recipe for the pizza? I would love to make it for my sister.
First McDonald’s on Laskey across from Miracle Mile… 15c burgers, 20c shakes, 10c fries… filling meal 45c…
I was a fry cook there and had to lug sacks of potatoes from the basement, put them in the scrubber, and cut one at a time in slicer. Only had walk-up windows then so I fried up a few moths in the process.
My husband worked there on the “shake machine!” We used to stop after school (Start) and get a hamburg and fries!
I remember two places my dad took me to on several excursions downtown: Toledo Hot Dog (best Coney Islands I’ve ever had) and Red Wells’s roast beef. Both terrific!
My dad Marlin Hydal (worked at Sealtest as a dairyman and then a printer at The Toledo Blade) took me to see The Creature From The Black Lagoon (ca. 1955) at a downtown theater. It was in 3D and really scary (I was only 8, or so)! To end a perfect Toledo day out, we polished off a couple of coney island dogs at Toledo Hot Dog.
During high school (1967-1971) my best friend (still is) and I would bus downtown (from different parts of the city) on weekends to meet in the 5th floor sporting goods department at Lasalles’. Our excursions (including Tiedke’s) ALWAYS included a lunch stop at Toledo Hot Dog – 3 dogs for $1. Yes, things have changed, but have they changed for the better?
WHT was the location?
Briarfield Cafe has good hot roast beef sandwiches!
My husband & I went to Red Wells frequently as well as my aunt’s. We we’re lucky enough to eat there unknowingly on their very last night. Sad to see it gone.
Since elbo room is now closed wouldn’t they share the pizza crust recipe with their Public in Morning?
I asked Rita if the pizza dough had yeast in it and she said yes. She used to make the Elbo Room pizzas when we lived in toledo in 1974 thru 1976.
What was the restaurant hooked on to greenwoid mall or near it that served all kinds of food but I got their strawberry pancakes that were delicious in the 1970s
I think there was a Howard Johnson’s restaurant there a long time ago, perhaps still in the 70s, and then a different one took over the same building but can’t remember that name.
There was a restaurant & banquet hall in the plaza in front of Northtown mall in the early 2000’s and I can’t recall the name!! Can anyone help me out??
The Dark Horse
HJ’s Prime Cut. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/restaurant-reviews/2002/05/17/HJ-s-Prime-Cut-A-healthy-survivor-on-Alexis-Road/stories/200205170003
HJ’s Prime Cut, I loved that place. Now it’s a stip club.
I ate a few times at Eppes Essen. I recall getting spaghetti once, and noticing the Parmesan cheese they gave me had an expiration date about a year prior. They were very apologetic. Probably shouldn’t have ordered Italian in a delicatessen, I guess. After they closed, I ate for many years at Posner’s, owned by Jim and Hazel Olive, and frequented by all the lawyers downtown. I wish I had a bowl of their matzo ball soup now.
Jim and Hazel’s son opened a restaurant two doors away, originally called Rima’s, after his extremely attractive wife, but they went through a messy divorce and she left town, after which he named the restaurant Ranya’s, after their daughter. I see now after googling that Ranya’s only closed a couple years ago.
Sal’s Restaurant was in a little strip mall on Alexis by Talmadge. Good place for spaghetti.
And great pizza. Some of the best in Toledo area at the time.The others were Gino’s in the Colony and Frog Leg Inn in Erie, Michigan.
Who remembers Shakey’s Pizza by Monroe and Sylvania or Dog and Suds at Alexis and Talmadge.
I remember Shakey’s! It was the place to go for pizza in the West end. Fun old comedy movies and cartoons played on a small screen.
I remember shakeys,I worked there, we would be eighty pizza’s behind if you placed an order ( 2&1/2 hour wait) Dorothy played the banjo and Richard F played the piano and Chet was the manager at that time.
Definitely remember Shakey’s on Monroe. It seemed to be the hangout for Bedfordites on Friday nights after football games. Even though I went to St Francis, I knew a lot of kids from Bedford and would hang out there. Thanks to the girls at the next table who bought me beers. They must have been Bedford seniors or already in college. They somehow knew who i was, although I didn’t know them at the time.
Yes I remember Shakey’s Pizza Parlot! They had a player piano I think and it was a huge place where patrons used to gather. Fun times!
I left Toledo in 1976, and boy I sure remember the Colony restaurant on Central near Monroe. Ate there a lot. Whoever posted about McDonald’s across from Miracle Mile, I remember Uncle Sam’s being there. Big statue in front, probably 40 ft tall. The Friday nite dances at the West Toledo Y, those were some good times. Roller skating at the outdoor rink at Pierson Park, ice skating at the outdoor rink at Ottawa park. Lots of fond memories.
Yes, the McDonald on Laskey is the first I remember in Toledo.The arches were multi colored neon lights, gold, pink and yellow, if I remember correctly. There was Uncle Sam’s there too further down.After it closed, Uncle Sam moved to a fireworks place in Michigan near Sterns and US 23. Prior to Taco Bell, there was a Taco Boy on Laskey that besides selling tacos, sold taco burgers. Also on Laskey near Douglas was a Kewpies and my favorite donut place, Hinkles.
The big Uncle Sams statue is still there by US 23!
I remember the dances at the West Toledo YMCA on Tallmadge in the early 1960’s.
The West Toledo Y is & always has been on Tremainsville. Not Talmadge. Went every Friday night now I go there for senior water aerobics.
Remember MANY a summer swimming at Bowman pool. That was the place to be all summer long. Why did it ever close. Up keep I imagine as that pool( s?) was HUGE !!
Yes! I was at the West Toledo YMCA dance every Friday night! in the early ’60’s. I remember dancing to “Surfer Girl” outside in the Summertime. Constantly walking from the gym to the blue room and back again! So much fun kids today will never know…
My parents treated the kids to dinner at the Colony on our birthdays. We were allowed to invite a sibling and I usually invited my younger sister. It was dark and elegant for a 9 year old kid. And they sang happy birthday to you as they delivered a cupcake with a sparkler on top to your table. Good memories.
Hi Mike I am 61 and going to the Colony was a big treat !!!! my 16th birthday we all got to drink a little kings ( my dad belonged to the Colony Mens Club ) and the waitress was Jeanie a real nice lady what a memory, I was so popular 🙂
That statue now sits on 23 at the first exit in front of a fireworks sales office, I think.
If I recall correctly, it was the Uncle Sam statue from the Cherry St. store near Central that ended up in Michigan near exit 5.
I remember the Kewpee’s at Laskey and Douglas? Now a gas station, original building is gone. It was there for quite a few years, and when I was a child we would go once a month or so and get a 3 piece fried chicken dinner, with fries, and a shake. The dinner came in a box shaped like a barn. I did some checking on Kewpee, and can’t seem to find anything on this one. There were a couple Kewpee company off-shoots, including one for Toledo, so maybe it was not really part of the original Kewpee company.
It was the best fried chicken. We went there often when I was a little girl!
I believe Uncle Sam’s took over when the original McDonalds moved. I think Uncle Sam’s was owned by the family that also owned the White Huts. After Uncle Sam’s went out of business I used to see the old statue laying down way out on Airport Highway, towards Toledo Express Airport, at some sort of storage yard. There was also an Uncle Sam’s on Cherry St. near Central. Their burgers were very similar to White Hut’s – delicious!
I was a fry cook there and had to lug sacks of potatoes from the basement, put them in the scrubber, and cut one at a time in slicer. Only had walk-up windows then so I fried up a few moths in the process.
Sal’s ?
Anyone remember Joey’s Rascal House?
I worked at the Williams Grill in the late 40’s or early 50’s. It was near the Lion Store in Toledo. Hostess name was Zoe and she made the schedule. Does anyone have a picture of it, or do you know if the Blade had any write ups about it. I worked in the back room in high school.
Does anyone remember a restaurant called The St. Louis Restaurant?
If I remember correctly, the St Louis was a light blue building with black lettering on Washington and Superior.
Had a U-shaped marble? bar and a badly painted surreal painting of the Toledo skyline.
That’s how I remember it. A lot of wino’s and the poor downtown ate there as it was inexpensive and accommodating. Interesting place.
Yankee Doodle Inn in Sylvania was great. A divorce, new wife wanted Mexican. Restaurant failed
I am looking for information about MR. G’s Pizza, it was on Laskey Rd across the street from the Drive-In, now there is a Amish Store there. Mr. G’s at one point were on Lewis Ave. between Eleanor and Laskey. I loved their pizza and the cheese they used was the best pizza cheese I have ever had. Trying to find out what cheese they used? Please help
Mr Gs in Wauseon was the bomb
I remember eating at Uncle John’s Pancake House when I was little. The memory never left me as I left a 1971 Lou Brock baseball card behind on the table by accident. A traumatic thing for a small boy as my folks would not turn back to retrieve it. I do remember the pancakes were very good, however.
What was the name of an old seafood restaurant on either Monroe and Talmadge or Monroe and Secor? Anyone know?
I think I have your 1971 Lou Brock card. I’ll gladly return it to you:)
I’ve been trying to find out the name of that restaurant as well!
Seafood House?
Granada Gardens Seafood House was near the corner of Monroe and Secor (actually on the South side of Monroe St). Worked there when I was in high school in the 1970’s.
Granada Gardens owned by Irv “Slick” Shapiro. I loved their crabmeat English muffin sandwich.
Before Shapiro the Granada Gardens was owned and operated by Jim Coleman and his partner Alice. The place had been in business for many years. Do you know when it finally closed?
The Granada Restaurant – owned by Slick Shapiro
Anyone remember a spaghetti place next to Franks Nursery I think it was called Mr Tony’s Spaghetti factory, great pizza and you got a huge bucket of spaghetti for 5 bucks
Hi
I’ve been looking for a photo of Captain Billy’s Whizzbang restaurant on Laskey. I found one of it closed, I was looking for an old photo with the shark outside. It’s a very special memory for someone and I can’t seem to locate it no matter how hard I try!
Thx!
🙂
Wow. Captain Billy’s Whizzbang was a fixture and The Porch of the Maidens on Central ave.
https://m.facebook.com/CatainBillys/
Try reaching out to the moderator on this FB page for pictures. It was owned by my father Leonard Jenkins and His brother John Jenkins after closing I know one of the former employees I believe attempted to reopen it I believe but it didn’t last. Its really cool to see people remember this place I grew up as a kid there in the late 70’s early 80’s and have many memories of it. Thanks
The Main Library downtown has a Local History department with extensive photo holdings, among many other items. Some are posted online but that’s just a sampling. That might be a source for what you want.
I remember a restaurant called the Boston Cooker on Monroe Street, near the old ChurchHills grocery store. Was there one there?
Years ago in the 1960s there was a Drive In theater on that site. Also wasn’t there a small Anderson’s before they moved to Monroe and Talmadge?
Starlight drive in theater. The food wasn’t”t bad. My favorite was “Flavos Egg Rolls”. As a kid, I remember playing on the swings at the front of the theater before the movie started
Anderson’s was out in Maumee as a grain and feed farm store when I was growing up in the 60’s and early 70’s.
It was Sal’s restaurant
What was name of bistro style restaurant on Reynolds Rd and Glendale in the 80’s? It is now a Walgreens.
Bombay bicycle club
Before Bombay it was “Smugglers Inn”.
What was name of restaurant on Talmadge across from Franklin Park Mall near Charcoal House in 70’s? Specially was prime rib…had a bar that was super busy at Happy Hour.
I worked at Smugglers Inn and was there when it closed. Then went to work at a new Mexican restaurant on Airport Hwy…on left side going towards airport….can’t remember name…not Loma Linda’s….they opened one near North Town Mall too. Both are closed now I think. Anyone remember the name?
I’d like a photo of the only Dudleys Hot Dog. Use to ride my bike there in the 70’s
White Hut Super King, Best hamburger ever. Don’t forget Don’s Drive-in Trailblazer. Kewpee Hamburgers, Three locations in Lima. Old fashioned burgers as they used to be. Was there in September 2019. Still great.
⁰
How about the garden inn.
I remember the Garden Inn on Monroe St. in Sylvania, best food ever
My father worked with Joe Conti and his family in Toledo in the 50’s and early 60’s. It was a night club, dinner and dancing, best Italian food in toledo.
Grandma ordered pizza from club Conti ,delivered to Fulton by taxi.
Club Conti at Cherry and Central. I believe they closed in the very early 70’s. Really good traditional pizza I first had in the mid-1950’s. In fact, it’s the first time I ever ate pizza. My folks would drive over there and pick it up.
Red Well’s RIP.. I ate there almost every week until I moved. I always got the same thing. roast beef open-faced sandwich with horseradish and gravy, mashed potatoes, corn and a glass of milk. I keep praying for a comeback
I remember a small place on South side of Sylvania Ave just East of Bellevue Rd in the late 1950’s called the Elbow Room was this the same place?
Hello. I’m doing some research about Toledo in the 1930’s. Has anyone ever heard of the 42nd Street Cafe, owned by Joe Roscoe (at 841 Broadway)? Or know of a way to get a photo of the original building? I see on Google maps, it is just a vacant lot now. Thanks!
Have you tried the Local History department at Toledo Public Library?
He was my Uncle and I just got a photo of the restaurant. Contact me, I will share with you what I know would you please share with me.
Does anybody remember Bud & Lukes near downtown. My first wife (Diane Pelton Marshall) and I used to eat there on rare occasion.
I ate there sometimes when I worked downtown. The food was dependably dull but cheap and not half bad.
I ate at Bud & Likes when I worked at Brooks Ins Agency. The turkey & dressing…yum.
Did your wife live on Hollywood Ave. when she was young? We lived next door to a Pelton family and I’m pretty sure one of the girls was named Diane.
Contrary to many other thoughts and opinions, the first McDonald’s in the Toledo area was on Laskey Rd., across from the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. I worked there in the summer of 1959. The sign our front said, “Over 1 Million Sold”.
Everybody thinks im crazy but I remember that location having a conveyor belt that brought your order above everyone’s head and out to the window… am i correct on this ??
All this pizza talk and no mention of Inky’s run by the Incorvaia brothers. Best pizza I ever ate. Sliced in rectangles instead of pie shape. As for steak houses, my parent’s favorite was Van’s Steak House. Went there for my 16th birthday. They’re other favorite restaurant was The Willows.
That was the on off Sylvania Ave. near Willys Pkwy
the McDonalds was located on Laskey across from the intersection with Mellwood. which is farther down from Miracle Mile. i grew up in the area and remember it well.
Amen! Was close to home. Mike M
Is your sister Jody Morse?
And who could forget Inky’S Italian after Scott High football and basketball games. Also top rate cheese pizza!! Also Tony Packos on Front St. made world famous by the hit series MASH.
We still go to both Inkys one on Detroit Ave. tastes better. We also go to Tony Packos on Decor across from old Elder Beerman. Nice roast beef dinners. Don’t like idea of them cutting hot dogs in half, seems like I’m paying for a whole but only get a half.
I grew up in Toledo, left there in 72, my folks would go to Eppies Essen for coffee, they had really good Kaiser rolls, and down the street Posners, and across the street the Wheel for a great hot beef sandwich. Early on we lived on Monroe St. almost next door to Marlowes hardware, at the end of the block was Elmers Cafe and across the street Kewpee, very early memories, went to kindergarten at a school somewhere in that area.
I keep thinking about Netterfield’s that had super crust on their fried chicken. What happened to that place?
That was my first job at netterfields in 1969. Al netterfield closed the restaurant and opened the Nettys hot dogs and ice cream places. I think his children each owned one. The fish and chicken batters at netterfields were the best!!
I’m trying to remember the name of the little Mexican restaurant near airport. Great food & world’s best margaritas. Always packed. Bartender was husband of owner and his name was Mike
Lola Linda’s?
Loma Lindas
Loma Linda’s
If you go to Toledo Public Library Auditors Images, you will find a picture of the St Louis Restaurant, 11 S Superior St. https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll88/id/281
My sisters worked at Linck’s cafeteria in the seventies, great food
I ate there sometimes when I worked downtown. The food was dependably dull but cheap and not half bad.
East Toledo Don’s Drive-in and Ciprianis Pizza
Shapiro was manager whitey Bessesie opened it
There was also a Don’s Drive In on Clayton and Broadway near the Hi-Level Bridge landing, and a “Don’s Coffee Shop” lunch counter next to the Pantheon theater at 327 N St Clair St, to the left of the theater entrance. The one you mention was still going in the early 80s as I recall.
Went to Cipriani’s as a kid in the 60’s – greatest pizza there was!
East Toledo Don’s Drive-in and Ciprianis Pizza were two great places to eat on the east side.
My grandpa Big Steve Kovacs use take me there. Buy me pizza while he bootlegged & ran the numbers!
I was a high school classmate of Sue Horvath Bires. Are you related? Am trying to research a downtown Toledo restaurant called “The Hub”. Can you tell me anything about it? It was located on Superior Street.
Betsy Ross Coffee Shop on the corner of Secor and Monroe? Owned by Bob Weiler and later his son, Don. Great Pancakes!
What about Hinkle’s donuts? I will forever miss them.
anyone know the name of the restaurant that used to be where Joanne Fabrics and Circuit CIty is now on Monroe Street? it was about 30 years ago, general menu supper club type, possibly a french name?
The Tivoli
1968 before senior prom Whitmer we ate there
O’Henry’s
As a family we always went to Smith’s cafeteria after an afternoon of shopping in downtown Toledo. Next door was a restaurant called the Tick Tock.
Grace Smith’s was my grandmother’s favorite Sunday after church place. So elegant and spotless. Today it seems like an oxymoron to say that about a cafeteria. But it was from another era when ladies wore gloves and hats, and men wore suits and hats. Smith’s had white linen tablecloths, indirect lighting, and someone playing piano. I still remember their roast beef carving stations and their neat arrangements of desserts and juices in crushed ice.
My folks would go to the Smith’s Cafeteria at Westgate Plaza. Wish those days could be re-lived.
Fish & Chips every Friday!
Remember the half a wedge of lettuce as their salad ?? Good stuff man.
Our waitress, once the restaurant closed, moved by us in Point Place and then began working at Family Affair, right next to dry dock lanes where I used to bowl on Saturdays.
Bud & Luke’s was great. I can still remember playing with the old school gum vending machine with the cigarette-style pull out levers. Begging my folks to get me some Wirgleys after supper.
The Building is still there too, was a church or ministry of some kind, now abandoned.
BEST prime rib in this city….JOEY’S Supper Club on Detroit Ave.
N. Detroit Ave.
My dad’s print shop, Buckeye Graphics was right next to the old Gypsy-house at Detroit and Capistrano , think Royal Pizza was there too, the Beech Nut place as well.
Joeys had this basement where us kids ‘dare not enter’, lol it was literally right when you walked in, before you even entered the restaurant there were the Dark Steps to Doom
My pops had his 40th birthday there, in said dungeon, I found pictures with a whole gag of strippers and all sorts of debauchery going on.
Good times. No, great times. Phenomenal Prime Rib at Jpegs.
I highly recommend ANGELOS NORTHWOOD VILLA (2 miles North of Joeys on same N. DETROIT AVE)
Your current mob-related hangout with quality steaks and seafood, much like good ole Joeys, your former mob-related hangout…with quality steaks, seafood and famous prime rib.
My grandparents and parents’ old war stories of how mobsters and the like would come down from Detroit to partake in whatever shenanigans were necessary at the time usually at Joeys or Angelos.
Definitely worth a mention on here.
Peace, Love, Dream.
Z
The Brittany was another place for awesome Prime Rib. It was located on the North side of Central, where Reynolds dead ends. I heard rumors that a fire or explosion in the early 70’s had been “a message”.
That was Hull Nuts on Detroit Ave. The owner was John Hullabarger, who delivered to local grocery stores, bars, and bowling alleys. A friend who worked at the New Glass Bowl bowling alley used to call John “Peanut John.”
Ricardo’s / Aztec Grill at One Seagate / OI Building / 5th 3rd Building
This basement gem in Toledo’s 2nd tallest building was home to many a fine night out with my folks. My brother and I used to roam the old Portside mall, where I vividly remember as having the best sugar cookies when I was a kid, insanely great.
Any Ricardo’s / Aztec Grill fans ???
I worked downtown in the 70s at Louisville Title. Occasionally I would eat lunch at the cafeteria in the basement of the First National Bank Building…….wasn’t that Grumpy’s?
I thought the first McDonald’s is on Cherry Street close to Central avenue. I worked at the auto parts store next door and we used to use their coffee to clean our countertops!
I was there when they demolished the Green Derby, I have a piece of the Green tile on my bookshelf.
Does anyone remember Elmer’s Diner on Monroe street? “Hello Friend,” he’d say.
Loved his double goopy sausage burger !
I worked next door at Marlow’s and always went in to see Elmer(more likely his daughter)! The Green Derby was a great place ..home of the Goopy!!!
My memories of Elmer’s date from the mid-1960s. The place was packed at lunchtime and Elmer worked the grill and stoves like a great showman – he was a tru multi-tasker.
Loma Linda’s
Soup N such on Douglas
Heine’s Fish and Chips @ South and Spencer
sure do always got the code fish dinner with fries and soft sugar cookies from sterling store on south and spencer. the good old days you could ride your bike there and it was still there when you came back out
BEST PIZZA EVER!!!! WISH THEY WERE STILL AROUND
What about 4E Ranch? Billisle’s (Sp?) Supper Club? What was in the spot now housing Twin Peaks on Monroe St, near Talmadge? And the steakhouse that sat where Hooter’s is today?
Krotzers spelling probably wrong thu
Yes, Krotzer’s Steak House. Thank you Mark!
Ii lived in Toledo in the late 1970’s, and somewhere in East Toledo or nearby Oregon was a place called Miller’s Restaurant, where we would go to have a plate of wonderful spaghetti ! Who remembers this place, or exactly where it was ?
Yes, I remember that place. I think it was called Miller’s Poor House. In ’76 we would go there after my pee-wee baseball games at the rec center fields behind the Mud Hens Stadium outfield wall. Tuesday nights were all-you-can-eat spaghetti. Really good spaghetti, from what I can recall. I think they also had all-you-can-eat fish on Friday nights. Cool place. Old house with some vintage decor. Wish I could remember the exact location, but can’t. Great memories of family gatherings there and my college-age brother wolfing down plates of spaghetti!
Thank you Pat !! You are the only person I have found that seems to remember this place . I think you’re recollections about it are correct…now if only we can figure out just where Miller’s Poor House actually was….. And you are right — their spaghetti was delicious !
links cafateria at the colony and what was the resturant on reynolds rd. in front of the now closed toys r us
I went to the Univ. of Toledo in the late 1970’s and remember driving to a restaurant which was somewhere on the eastern side of the city, East Toledo or maybe even near the Oregon area, that we used to go to called Miller’s. We usually had spaghetti there, and it was excellent. Does anybody remember this restuarant, or where exactly it was at ? It was about a 20 minute drive from the University. I’m not talking about Miller’s Turnpike restaurant that was popular back in the 60’s on Reynolds Ave.
millers on reynolds in front of toys r us
I have been looking for info on two restaurants in Toledo, now long gone. One was Emerson’s on Monroe St., home of the huge drink called “The Grog.” The other was Sweetwater Cafe where you were seated in an actual street car or train car, can’t remember which, but it was also on Monroe St. Does anyone remember either of these? Hubby and I went to both, Emerson’s in the mid 70s, Sweetwater early 80s.
LONESTAR STEAK HOUSE
Loved the 4-E ranch house…occasional Sunday dinner.
I worked at the Boody House down by the river in Fort Industry Square.
I remember Emersons had all you can drink beer with your meal ! Does anyone remember a restuarant on Whiteford Center Rd. near Cherrywood golf course that had a mafia theme? I went there in 1986 for Valentines day with my wife.thought maybe the name was O’banions
Remember Inky’s on N. Detroit….midget salad and pizza was my “go to” on Friday nights.
How about the Northwood Inn.? May have been in Michigan just across the border.
Inky’s had the best pizza ever Believe they are still opened.
The midget salad was/is to die for!
How about the Northwood Inn.? May have been in Michigan just across the border.
I remember going to The Northwood Inn with my family in the 60s and 70s. They were there at least well into the latter part of the 80s. They still had their 1940s/1950s elegant decor the last time I went there.
Does anyone remember an italian restaurant in Rossford called Cavisies (probably not spelled right). They had the best pasta/ravioli I’ve ever tasted? Probably around 1967?
Calpitros? Not sure but it was GOOD!
Does anyone remember a nightclub downtown called: The 20s? My ex and I used to go there quite a bit around 1970.
I loved El Porto II at Portside and just hanging out at Portside downtown as well.
When did the Kewpee locations in Toledo close?
Nobody mentioned the Bungalow on Airport Hey.
Loved, loved, loved the Bungalow !! Best steak EVER!
Does anyone recall and have information for a place called Mazurka’s in the Toledo area. I was there in the late 1970’s for a family party and recently came across a photo but I have no real memory of it. Thanks!
My grandparents Joe and Grace Davie started the original Elbow Room and lived above it on Tremainsville Rd. Later the opened Sal’s on Alexis Rd. along with my Dad Sal (Sam) and Mom Bonna. til my grandparents sold the property on Tremainsville to move to retire in Fl. My parents later sold Sal’s to a couple Sal and Aeisha(not sure of that spelling) to move to Florida also.
The Northwood Inn was what Ruth’s Chris wanted to be. Shakey’s was what Chuckie Cheese became.
The Frozen Custard, and J&G pizza.
Hungarian ? The Budapest on Monroe St., hands down. Their Chicken Paprikash, Breaded Veal both with noodles and gravy were to die for. Packo’s if you want hot dogs.
Chinese ? Golden Lily. Going there since the late 60’s ( all three downtown locations and Reynolds Rd.)
Johnny’s Hot Dog ?? on Dorr near Smead and/or Hill near Byrne. Coney Island at Southwyck Mall (yelling the orders from across the room)
I loved The Budapest. Whatever happened to it?
Closed vivid
Name of the 24 hour restaurant on the se corner of Dort st and secor rd back in the 60’s or 70’s, used to go there late at night when a teenager, probably around midnight to 3am, to grab breakfast.
Secor Diner my brothers fav hangout!
Need help. Does anyone remember a place called Ranch on Airport Highway in Holland, OH? Across from Spring Meadows area? Does anyone have any links to any pictures of it? Thanks so much.
What was the restaurant called by the old value city near the corner of south Detroit and aw trail. Was a little diner, I think it was a lady’s name?
Hi Nancy, It was in the parking lot with Rink’s Bargain City. Right in that corner by S Detroit, the Trail, and the Turnpike. It was called Lucky Steer.
Sophias
I’ve been searching for any information I can get about a supposed Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In restaurant in Toledo. This menu lists 111 S. Summit Street as the location, but this is where apartments have been since at least the early 60s. The abandoned restaurant near it apparently used to be a Big Boy and now reads Spring Gardens Family Restaurant. It is more likely that the restaurant stood here and the menu address is incorrect or does not match today’s. Unless the restaurant never opened and the address for the yet-to-be-opened location was listed anyway. But if the Laugh-In restaurant did exist, then why does nobody remember it? I have asked many and have had no luck- I’m 20 so it’s loooong before my time. Even if it existed for a short time, you think that would be pretty memorable! I’m just looking for any evidence at all that it existed.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1969-rowan-martin-laugh-restaurant-1891835772
Spiegel’s on Bancroft and Franklin… best deli sandwich ever.
I remember most of those places mentioned. Angelo’s ( on Stickney Ave.) had sizzling steaks on a hot plate served to their customers. And, the best pizza’s in the area.
Rojecks catering (on Lagrange St.) had the best polish wedding dinners, you could buy at lunchtime, for around $4.00. You couldn’t finish it all, there was so much food!
A & W (on Summit St., in Point Place) had the best hotdogs around, other than Tony Packo’s, and always had drive up service! Sit in your car eating with a tray of food hanging off your window!
My parents took my sisters and me to The Cellar restaurant in downtown Toledo. It was primarily seafood and I had swordfish. It wasn’t bad, but I think there was something off with it because my sister, who also had swordfish, and I both had diarhea the next day and we “fought” for the toilet for a day.
I also remember Smith’s cafeteria at Westgate Shopping Center and The Bun and Burger which I think was where Kroger’s is now on Monroe and Secor.
Anybody remember 4E Ranch House on Airport Hwy & Byrne. Also Linck’s cafeteria. Both were owned by the same family
You are ALL making me hungry!!! And bringing back wonderful.memories. loved the Surf – their pressed duck and house steak stand out . And what about the Sherbrooke on Monroe Street. Always a great place to celebrate. This is a wonderful site. Thanks for the memories!
Does anyone remember The Holland House? We used to get the Moran Burger that was almost the size of a plate!
Trying to remember name of ice cream shop and Edgewater and 145th in Point Place…..great dipped soft serve cones and slushies!!!!
What was name of restaurant on Talmadge across from Franklin Park Mall near Charcoal House in 70’s? Specially was prime rib…had a bar that was super busy at Happy Hour.
Was there a restaurant on the corner of Laskey and Tremainsville next to Frisch’s Big Boy
s called Lamplight Steakhouse
brings back memories with my family.
HI, I am looking to see if anyone remembers Quality Bike Shop, located on Lagrange St in the 1960’s and early 1970’s? Or has photos from the 3200 block of Lagrange Street from that time? Thank you!
Parents used to take us to BUD AND LUKES. I think it was somewhere downtown.