Wow, it has been a long time since I last wrote something for this blog. I regret not taking time to add my thoughts and comments to the site but man, it is hard to start when there is so much to do. I find life can be like spinning tires, busy at home and on the job, working hard at both but seemingly not going anywhere. But I have had some observations lately and would like to share them with the teeming masses.
I always take the kids to school on my days off. With teenagers I do what I can to spend time with them and try to get some sort of conversation going. Usually in the morning they are arguing about something so stupid you want to pull over and push them out of the vehicle, but anyway. This particular time I stopped at McDonald's on the Business Loop thinking we could get a fast meal. There were only a few people at the counter and the drive thru was busy. Once inside we could not get anyone to take our order because all the staff was gathering orders for the drive thru. We waited patiently until someone finally took our order and of course it took a while to make. I watched the clock because I did not want to drop them off late and almost said something before the cashier gave us our order. We had to eat it on the run but everyone got to school on time.
In another case, several times in the last month I stopped in at the new Starbucks on Broadway where the new HyVee is being developed on Conley Rd. I prefer the downtown location but there is no parking that late in the morning. The drive thru was packed so I go inside and find no customers. Wow, I can get a coffee right away. Wrong! I had to wait until the three employees got the drive thru orders out of the way. I felt like I was disturbing the Starbucks staff so I left knowing I would not go there again. Other people I know have had similiar incidents and shared them with everyone. This location will fail if they do not take care of walkins.
Here you have two companies, one that has fairly good food (McDonalds) and the other great coffee (Starbucks). In these two cases I should have talked to a manager or owner or someone who would listen. If you do not have enough staff to handle both the walk in crowd and a drive thru simply close one. Lock the doors, put up a sign that says "Not enough help, please use the drive thru." We are continuing the era of bad customer service which will affect the big chain stores and open up possibilities for smaller independent stores. Here are some hopes:
I took the kids to El Rancho, a Mexican restaurant downtown on Broadway for a quick meal. We got our food fast and it was great. These people come from Mexico and open up a great little restaurant which I believe now has a location in Kansas City. After the great meal at El Rancho I stopped in at Day Light Donuts to try their donuts. These East Indian or Pakistani gentlemen (don't know for sure but I will find out) have started this business next to the Papa Johns on Broadway and believe me the donuts are great, better than Krispy Kreme. I loved it, the kids loved it and the prices were great.
Two businesses trying to make it during tough times opened by newcomers from other countries. They will get my business whenever possible because they are taking the chances; I consider these people brave and hope the best for their businesses.
Now a short note about our economy. I know I bored everyone with my last entry but things are changing fast. Saudi Arabia has bought over 3.5 billion dollars in gold because they see things changing. OPEC has decided not to lower the production of oil because they know low oil prices will silence American ideas of higher fuel standards for cars and new energy sources. But with banks hurting and most Americans spending less, fuel consumption is down and may remain that way for a while. Guess who is hurting also?
Have we heard anything from Chavez, the president of Venezuela lately? No, because his oil revenues have fallen which is what keeps him propped up. He heavily subsidises basic needs of his people like food and gas. His nation has a murder rate which may topple his government because the Venezuelan people have finally seen what he really is and how ineffective he is. How about that president of Iran, he is quiet now because the oil revenues are needed to keep food and gas prices low for his people. By keeping food and fuel cheap he and the mullahs stay in power. He has spent so much money on terrorist organisations, Iran's military and the nuclear weapons program that the economy may be a bust sooner or later. And Russia, where is Putin. He has been quiet lately because Russia's oil revenues have fallen. They can still use oil and natural gas as a weapon against Western Europe but he is quiet now.
We Americans need to wake up and change the world one more time. I believe we can do this but that would be another time. Until next time.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Happy days are here again?
I have been extremely busy over the last three weeks with no time to work on my site, but during this hiatus I have been searching for ideas to write about and share with the teeming masses. Overall the news is grim with economic chaos throughout the country, while locally my place of employment is now laying people off. It's hard to find something positive to write about but I believe we may be headed for an exciting ride that ends up changing this country and perhaps our way of life for a long time. Let me explain.
"Happy days are here again?", is based on a popular tin pan alley song that came out during the Depression around 1929. (I added the question mark myself.) Franklin D. Roosevelt used it as a campaign song in his 1932 run for the presidency and it has been identified with the Democratic Party since then. I consider myself politically as an Independent but I still like the song even though it was stolen by a political party. Anyway while I was looking around town the past few weeks I see trends that point to positive changes in our local area and the country.
First off - the economy.
Bill Clinton used the saying "It's the economy stupid!" for his campaign against the first George Bush. The nation's economy was taking a beating during the first Bush administration and the country was ripe for change after twelve years of Republican leadership. The savings and loan debacle hurt Bush and the Federal Government had to pay out billions to save the industry from itself. Even though the Feds got their money back lessons were not learned. Let us move ahead a few years. The second George Bush is in power and we are fighting several wars in the Middle East and there is an economic meltdown happening towards the end of his last year in office. Like father, like son.
At this time our friend Mr. Ed is asking "What does it have to do with local businesses?" I promise you I am getting to it but a little history lesson is in order.
Back in 1980 the Reagan administration borrowed billions to pay for a military buildup to force the Soviet Union into bankruptcy. During this time the Reagan tax cuts came about giving the Federal Government less money to spend so with less revenue and increased military spending the budget was a bust. In the 1980's credit cards went main stream meaning almost everyone could now get one. People would talk about their Gold or Platinum or even Titanium cards and their increasing credit limit. Wealth was no longer measured by money you had in the bank but what amount of credit you could get. The next president, Bush the First, had to raise some taxes to keep the country solvent but it may have cost him the election. But the ground was set with the first Reagan tax cuts as businesses started growing and international trade increased. President Clinton was a gifted politician who saw what was happening and decided it was good for the nation. No matter what the Republican congress did, any improvement in the economy was reflected on Clinton and he got the credit. The Fed kept lowering interests rates with the belief that the best way for individuals to gain wealth was to own their own house. This continued into Bush the Second's first term where we had a real estate boom due to low interest rates. Houses were being built everywhere and selling for ungodly high prices and people were buying them left and right, some to live in and some for investments. New designer home loans allowed people to buy a house with little or no down payment. Easy credit was everywhere but wages did not keep up. Personal bankruptcies increased as consumers could not control their spending and went too far into debt. A shadow was being lifted and we were going to see the results of over 25 years of deregulation and "moral hazard". The Republicans were very big is deregulating industries to make them more successful which worked to a degree but Capitalism breeds greed and we were to see it in epic scales never seen before.
Are you still with me? Our country's perception of wealth has changed to how much credit one could get, not by personal money saved. Since 1980 the federal government has led the way in thinking deficit spending is not only okay but the correct way to run the country. Companies and banks have learned that "moral hazard" or the knowledge that risky investments will always be bailed out by the government for the good of the country is part of the plan. Deregulation of some industries has failed. Individual citizens carry way too much debt and do not have enough saved for the future. I apologize if all this seems simplistic but it starting to come down to the local level. (Finally Mr. Ed says!)
How about something positive. Recently I stopped into two new local shops selling items I did not need but wanted. Daylight Donuts is located on Broadway next to the Papa John's Pizza outlet and sells a variety of donuts and pastries. They are scheduled to offer Broaster Chicken sometime in the future but for now they have just donuts. The other shop was Hot Box Cookies which is further down Broadway next to Cool Stuff. This place sells cookies that you design yourself. For $5.95 you can order six cookies with any toppings you want. Call ahead and they will be waiting for you. Here you have two businesses opening up during one of the worst economic times selling items we really don't need but want. I will make every effort to buy from these two businesses hoping to help them become successful. The owners are brave people and deserve our respect and business.
Another positive trend, gas prices have gone down and people are thinking. Oil prices are down because demand for gas is lower. Countries like Iran, Russia and Venezuela are now worried because the money is not flowing in and the oil money is what keeps the govenments propped up. Americans are now rethinking gas mileage and Detroit is designing higher mileage cars. I went through this in the early 70's but I think the government and private industry are in a position to change the auto industry forever.
"Happy days are here again?", is based on a popular tin pan alley song that came out during the Depression around 1929. (I added the question mark myself.) Franklin D. Roosevelt used it as a campaign song in his 1932 run for the presidency and it has been identified with the Democratic Party since then. I consider myself politically as an Independent but I still like the song even though it was stolen by a political party. Anyway while I was looking around town the past few weeks I see trends that point to positive changes in our local area and the country.
First off - the economy.
Bill Clinton used the saying "It's the economy stupid!" for his campaign against the first George Bush. The nation's economy was taking a beating during the first Bush administration and the country was ripe for change after twelve years of Republican leadership. The savings and loan debacle hurt Bush and the Federal Government had to pay out billions to save the industry from itself. Even though the Feds got their money back lessons were not learned. Let us move ahead a few years. The second George Bush is in power and we are fighting several wars in the Middle East and there is an economic meltdown happening towards the end of his last year in office. Like father, like son.
At this time our friend Mr. Ed is asking "What does it have to do with local businesses?" I promise you I am getting to it but a little history lesson is in order.
Back in 1980 the Reagan administration borrowed billions to pay for a military buildup to force the Soviet Union into bankruptcy. During this time the Reagan tax cuts came about giving the Federal Government less money to spend so with less revenue and increased military spending the budget was a bust. In the 1980's credit cards went main stream meaning almost everyone could now get one. People would talk about their Gold or Platinum or even Titanium cards and their increasing credit limit. Wealth was no longer measured by money you had in the bank but what amount of credit you could get. The next president, Bush the First, had to raise some taxes to keep the country solvent but it may have cost him the election. But the ground was set with the first Reagan tax cuts as businesses started growing and international trade increased. President Clinton was a gifted politician who saw what was happening and decided it was good for the nation. No matter what the Republican congress did, any improvement in the economy was reflected on Clinton and he got the credit. The Fed kept lowering interests rates with the belief that the best way for individuals to gain wealth was to own their own house. This continued into Bush the Second's first term where we had a real estate boom due to low interest rates. Houses were being built everywhere and selling for ungodly high prices and people were buying them left and right, some to live in and some for investments. New designer home loans allowed people to buy a house with little or no down payment. Easy credit was everywhere but wages did not keep up. Personal bankruptcies increased as consumers could not control their spending and went too far into debt. A shadow was being lifted and we were going to see the results of over 25 years of deregulation and "moral hazard". The Republicans were very big is deregulating industries to make them more successful which worked to a degree but Capitalism breeds greed and we were to see it in epic scales never seen before.
Are you still with me? Our country's perception of wealth has changed to how much credit one could get, not by personal money saved. Since 1980 the federal government has led the way in thinking deficit spending is not only okay but the correct way to run the country. Companies and banks have learned that "moral hazard" or the knowledge that risky investments will always be bailed out by the government for the good of the country is part of the plan. Deregulation of some industries has failed. Individual citizens carry way too much debt and do not have enough saved for the future. I apologize if all this seems simplistic but it starting to come down to the local level. (Finally Mr. Ed says!)
How about something positive. Recently I stopped into two new local shops selling items I did not need but wanted. Daylight Donuts is located on Broadway next to the Papa John's Pizza outlet and sells a variety of donuts and pastries. They are scheduled to offer Broaster Chicken sometime in the future but for now they have just donuts. The other shop was Hot Box Cookies which is further down Broadway next to Cool Stuff. This place sells cookies that you design yourself. For $5.95 you can order six cookies with any toppings you want. Call ahead and they will be waiting for you. Here you have two businesses opening up during one of the worst economic times selling items we really don't need but want. I will make every effort to buy from these two businesses hoping to help them become successful. The owners are brave people and deserve our respect and business.
Another positive trend, gas prices have gone down and people are thinking. Oil prices are down because demand for gas is lower. Countries like Iran, Russia and Venezuela are now worried because the money is not flowing in and the oil money is what keeps the govenments propped up. Americans are now rethinking gas mileage and Detroit is designing higher mileage cars. I went through this in the early 70's but I think the government and private industry are in a position to change the auto industry forever.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Rethinking Columbia Mall
In my August 15th entry I made a negative comment about the Columbia Mall that I need to clarify. Compared to past malls the Columbia Mall (in my opinion) is very boring. It has become a collection of shoe stores, clothing outlets and jewelry shops while very few, if any locally owned venues are located there. Almost every store I used to shop at is gone. At one time there were stores that sold books, music, movies, toys and the place seemed to be alive. Nowadays I see shoppers in trances who appear as robots programmed to shop at a mall that looks the same as a hundred other malls with the exact some stores in each.
I cannot believe I am nostalgic for the original Columbia Mall which I hated since it's conception.
The Columbia Mall helped cause the death of Parkade and Biscayne Malls, both of which had so much character. Changing trends and mall owners who didn't seem to care or know what to do helped in the demise of Parkade and Biscayne. Developers thought bigger was better so they built this large shopping center to draw everyone to Columbia. As I watched Parkade and Biscayne Malls slowly die I was tempted to shop at this new mall. I admit I found it fascinating as the next customer and like the idea of a huge group of stores and restaurants under one roof. One stop shopping at its best but it has changed. Allow me to elaborate:
-Wal Mart went after toy shops like they did grocery stores causing many to close.
-The Internet has changed people's shopping habits as music, movies and other items are cheaper to buy online or download.
-Bad parenting had kids dropped off at the mall by their parents, unsupervised leading to bad behavior from the kids and a terrible shopping experience on Friday and Saturday evening.
-Rent at the Columbia Mall is very high which has caused most local owned businesses to go elsewhere. I am sure rent is within industry standards but the only stores that can afford it are national chains.
-Most attractions are gone. The theatre was kicked out to get Barnes and Noble in that spot. The arcade was kicked out because of the problems with kids. There is a merry-go-round located in the Cafe Court which runs almost empty most of the time.
I am sure there are other reasons for the changes at the Columbia Mall but none come to mind right now. Not all the changes are bad though. The new owners cleaned up the mall and it looks nice. Security has improved and it is no longer a chore to go there on Friday and Saturday nights. I compliment the owners for their brave decision to ban unsupervised kids on those two evenings. The biggest problem I have with the Columbia Mall is my own. I am older now and have less patience with bad service and boring surroundings. As I age I become nostalgic for places I remember, even though at the time they may have been boring also. I am sure the Columbia Mall is a good place to shop but I just try to stay away. Who knows where the next "new" mall will be located and if I am still alive I will write about my past memories of the Columbia Mall and how I missed it. Scary stuff, in my mind.
I cannot believe I am nostalgic for the original Columbia Mall which I hated since it's conception.
The Columbia Mall helped cause the death of Parkade and Biscayne Malls, both of which had so much character. Changing trends and mall owners who didn't seem to care or know what to do helped in the demise of Parkade and Biscayne. Developers thought bigger was better so they built this large shopping center to draw everyone to Columbia. As I watched Parkade and Biscayne Malls slowly die I was tempted to shop at this new mall. I admit I found it fascinating as the next customer and like the idea of a huge group of stores and restaurants under one roof. One stop shopping at its best but it has changed. Allow me to elaborate:
-Wal Mart went after toy shops like they did grocery stores causing many to close.
-The Internet has changed people's shopping habits as music, movies and other items are cheaper to buy online or download.
-Bad parenting had kids dropped off at the mall by their parents, unsupervised leading to bad behavior from the kids and a terrible shopping experience on Friday and Saturday evening.
-Rent at the Columbia Mall is very high which has caused most local owned businesses to go elsewhere. I am sure rent is within industry standards but the only stores that can afford it are national chains.
-Most attractions are gone. The theatre was kicked out to get Barnes and Noble in that spot. The arcade was kicked out because of the problems with kids. There is a merry-go-round located in the Cafe Court which runs almost empty most of the time.
I am sure there are other reasons for the changes at the Columbia Mall but none come to mind right now. Not all the changes are bad though. The new owners cleaned up the mall and it looks nice. Security has improved and it is no longer a chore to go there on Friday and Saturday nights. I compliment the owners for their brave decision to ban unsupervised kids on those two evenings. The biggest problem I have with the Columbia Mall is my own. I am older now and have less patience with bad service and boring surroundings. As I age I become nostalgic for places I remember, even though at the time they may have been boring also. I am sure the Columbia Mall is a good place to shop but I just try to stay away. Who knows where the next "new" mall will be located and if I am still alive I will write about my past memories of the Columbia Mall and how I missed it. Scary stuff, in my mind.
Smokin Chicks BBQ - Three times a charm!
I had to drop the kids off at the Necropolis last night so I decided to check out the Roots, Blues and BBQ Festival downtown while I waited for their call to be picked up. What perfect weather, I am sure the festival planners were rejoicing about the cool, clear evening. The crowds were large and well behaved but the lines to the BBQ vendors were long so I waited to see what the two kids would want to eat. When they finally called I asked them to walk downtown (the car was a mile away) and check out the festival. When we met up they walked around the event for an half hour and seemed bored. They were both hungry so my daughter wanted to go to Smokin Chicks to get a pulled pork sandwich. I thought this to be strange because she has often informed me about her dislike of BBQ but off we went to the Ninth St. location so we could sit down for a while.
This was my third visit to Smokin Chicks and they did not disappoint. The kids both had sandwiches, my daughter had her favorite pulled pork while my son ate a pulled chicken sandwich. This time they bought the large size which was scary looking because of the huge amount of meat on a large bun. (I wondered how are they going to eat all that!) With a generous slathering of the sweet BBQ sauce both kids ate their sandwiches in very few bites. I should not be amazed since teenagers eat their weight in food everyday but it is so rare that they like the same restaurants I do. So my hats off to Smokin Chicks for excellent food.
They are now my favorite BBQ place in Columbia for pulled pork and chicken sandwiches. Their meat has a wonderful light smoked flavor that doesn't even need a sauce. The meat is so tender and the burnt ends explode with flavor. There is a selection of sauces on the table with our favorite being the Sweet sauce. I do not know if the make their own sauces but they compliment the sandwiches very well.
Over the past few months I have been hitting the BBQ places. Lampert's Plush Pig has excellent side dishes (The waitress says they make all their own Cole slaw, baked beans and potato salad from scratch.) but the smoked meat was just okay. Bandana's smoke flavor always gave me heartburn but their boiled peanuts are awesome. Buckingham's which was my favorite moved to South Columbia and since I am too lazy to drive down there I just don't go. I was the only one in my family who liked Buckingham's so we didn't eat there much. I wonder what happened to their plans to open a location near the Harley Davidson shop because that would be just walking distance for me.
Anyway, back to Smokin Chicks. I shall encourage everyone to try this place out as I believe they are local owners that put out a great sandwich. In fact I may go out today and buy a pulled chicken sandwich and maybe try their sausage that has a strange name. Great flavor, huge portions and contentment, this place may be a portal to Nirvana. Give them a try.
This was my third visit to Smokin Chicks and they did not disappoint. The kids both had sandwiches, my daughter had her favorite pulled pork while my son ate a pulled chicken sandwich. This time they bought the large size which was scary looking because of the huge amount of meat on a large bun. (I wondered how are they going to eat all that!) With a generous slathering of the sweet BBQ sauce both kids ate their sandwiches in very few bites. I should not be amazed since teenagers eat their weight in food everyday but it is so rare that they like the same restaurants I do. So my hats off to Smokin Chicks for excellent food.
They are now my favorite BBQ place in Columbia for pulled pork and chicken sandwiches. Their meat has a wonderful light smoked flavor that doesn't even need a sauce. The meat is so tender and the burnt ends explode with flavor. There is a selection of sauces on the table with our favorite being the Sweet sauce. I do not know if the make their own sauces but they compliment the sandwiches very well.
Over the past few months I have been hitting the BBQ places. Lampert's Plush Pig has excellent side dishes (The waitress says they make all their own Cole slaw, baked beans and potato salad from scratch.) but the smoked meat was just okay. Bandana's smoke flavor always gave me heartburn but their boiled peanuts are awesome. Buckingham's which was my favorite moved to South Columbia and since I am too lazy to drive down there I just don't go. I was the only one in my family who liked Buckingham's so we didn't eat there much. I wonder what happened to their plans to open a location near the Harley Davidson shop because that would be just walking distance for me.
Anyway, back to Smokin Chicks. I shall encourage everyone to try this place out as I believe they are local owners that put out a great sandwich. In fact I may go out today and buy a pulled chicken sandwich and maybe try their sausage that has a strange name. Great flavor, huge portions and contentment, this place may be a portal to Nirvana. Give them a try.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Twilight Festival's Last Gleaming
Thursday evening I dropped my daughter off downtown for Columbia's Twilight Festival. Since this would be the second to the last of the festivals I decided to walk around town and see what was going on. The first thing I noticed was the number of people walking around, a lot less then in previous Twilight evenings. The other thing I noticed was the number of music venues were reduced to a decent level that did not crowd the airwaves with unnecessary noise. There were still enough people and musical acts to attract a decent crowd but with 9th Street not being closed, the sidewalks were full. Most of the teenagers were congregating in Peace Park and there seemed to be fewer gangs of young people running around harassing everyone. And with the weather being clear and cool the evening my walk downtown was quite nice.
I walked all the streets to get a feel for the crowd which seemed happy but sparse in some areas. There were very few information booths set up and only a handful of people handing out flyer's. My first stop was Gumby's to say hello to a friend who is the evening manager. Gumby's is over the now famous Sapphire Lounge which has been in the news lately for unruly crowds and people taking pot shots at police. The lounge was closed so I had a beer at Gumby's, an ice cold Negra Modelo from Mexico. They only charged two bucks which is a great price. All of the customers in Gumby's seemed like Junior High students there for the cheap pizza. They kept looking my way like I was a plain clothes cop or a dirty old man. My friend was busy so I left after one beer. I soon ran into a old Columbia College school mate of mine. We talked politics for a good half hour with strangers joining in or just listening. I had conversations with the Libertarians and the Obama workers of which I changed my positions several times to see what theirs were.
Around 8PM I went to Smoking Chicks BBQ on 9th Street to get a sandwich. I highly recommend their pulled pork sandwich as it was tender and flavorful but not too smokey. I liked their Cole slaw which has horseradish in it but it was dry and could be a little creamier. After eating I walked the streets one more time to see what was going on. Little bands of young people were showing up so I decided it was time to leave. I used to enjoy the Twilight Festivals but it became a hassle dealing with the rude kids and at the time of this writing I do not know if I will go to the last one this next Thursday. I am sure Columbia will come up with something new to entertain it's populace.
I walked all the streets to get a feel for the crowd which seemed happy but sparse in some areas. There were very few information booths set up and only a handful of people handing out flyer's. My first stop was Gumby's to say hello to a friend who is the evening manager. Gumby's is over the now famous Sapphire Lounge which has been in the news lately for unruly crowds and people taking pot shots at police. The lounge was closed so I had a beer at Gumby's, an ice cold Negra Modelo from Mexico. They only charged two bucks which is a great price. All of the customers in Gumby's seemed like Junior High students there for the cheap pizza. They kept looking my way like I was a plain clothes cop or a dirty old man. My friend was busy so I left after one beer. I soon ran into a old Columbia College school mate of mine. We talked politics for a good half hour with strangers joining in or just listening. I had conversations with the Libertarians and the Obama workers of which I changed my positions several times to see what theirs were.
Around 8PM I went to Smoking Chicks BBQ on 9th Street to get a sandwich. I highly recommend their pulled pork sandwich as it was tender and flavorful but not too smokey. I liked their Cole slaw which has horseradish in it but it was dry and could be a little creamier. After eating I walked the streets one more time to see what was going on. Little bands of young people were showing up so I decided it was time to leave. I used to enjoy the Twilight Festivals but it became a hassle dealing with the rude kids and at the time of this writing I do not know if I will go to the last one this next Thursday. I am sure Columbia will come up with something new to entertain it's populace.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
My favorite pizza in Columbia MO
Well folks, summer is almost over and the kids are back in school. My daughter's new dog has taken over the house and using it as a very large bathroom (We are working on its' house training skill.) while my teenage son still hogs the computer and is proud to report he is the number one sniper in his online game. (That should get him far in the future.) Such is family life in this household.
Over the summer I have been on a quest looking for my favorite pizza in Columbia. It has been hard work but I came up with some surprises. Here is my list starting with my least favorite:
#10 Papa John's
Their product was never consistently good or bad, just okay. One thing about their pizza, it has a spice or combination of spices that put me to sleep. I'm not kidding! One time we bought it for the staff at work and it was hard to finish the day because everyone was so sleepy. I bought it once for a group of kids at my house and sure enough they all quieted down after eating, some of them nodding off. Maybe the original "Papa" John should check out his Columbia store to see if it meets the company standards. They had a special going for a one topping pizza at a great price so I go in, pay for it and the guy hands me a pizza. I commented on how fast that was and he said they had cooked a bunch of them up ahead of time because of the special. My pizza tasted like the box it was in which made me check to see if I was eating cardboard. Yuk!
#9 Pizza Hut
Bad service at their Clark Lane location and a mediocre product made an impression on me. The company once offered a speciality pizza, I can't remember what it was, so I tried to order it from the Clark Lane location and they were out of the special crust. So on another day I went to the store and ask for the same pizza and once again they had sold out. Okay, so it was popular, that's a good thing right? Again I go to the store and they won't even acknowledge me because everyone is playing around. I waited awhile and even tried to get someones attention but to no avail so I walked out and haven't bought anything from them since.
#8Domino's
They have a great delivery service but an above average mediocre pizza. My kids like the pizza so they order it on occasion and I of course steal a piece. There never seems to be a consistent product because we order the same pizza and sometimes it is good and other times it is terrible.
#7 Imo's
For a chain store they make a good pizza. I guess it is called a St. Louis style with the thin crust and square cut but all in all I like their pizza. The problem has been consistency. The last few times our pizza seemed to have less toppings and did not taste as good. They do deserve another chance.
#6 Kostaki's
They serve a good pizza but are soooooo far from where I live. They are located in the Cherry Hill Village in west Columbia and I did not even ask if they deliver to the far east edge of the city. If you live nearby they are worth checking out.
#5 Shakespeare's
Twenty years ago they were my favorite hand tossed pizza. Then Henry J's pizza came along and introduced me to thin crust which became my all time favorite. When Henry J's closed I started loving Shakespeare's again. Yes, I have fickle taste buds but as one is introduced to new things we sometimes change. And as some company's grow their product may not keep up in quality as I believe this may have happened to Shakespeare's. They have their west location and their frozen pizza business in grocery stores but I tried one of their frozen pizzas and it is not worth what I paid for it. I also think the ingredients have changed but I may be mistaken. The last time I was there one of scuzziest workers took my order and I watched the whole process to make sure he did not make my pizza. When I got home I found the pizza was not quite done but I ate it anyway. I will continue to go to Shakespeare's because of fond memories of great times and have a hope that the next pizza I eat there will be great.
#4 Arri's
This legendary Jeff City pizza place opened a location in south Columbia in the Kohl's shopping center. Some of my friends talked about going to Jeff City to eat this great pizza and they were happy that Arri's opened a store here. I tried it and it is good. It falls into the category of Greek pizzas and has an excellent sausage. I also talked to the manager who said the Jeff City location sometimes has an hour waiting time for customers so people from Jefferson City will drive up to Columbia to eat at the new location. The pizza here is worth the drive.
#3 Tony's
I have lived in Columbia for over twenty-five years and never ate at Tony's until recently. So many people recommended it that for research purposes I had to go. I was not disappointed but not that overly impressed. They serve a good pizza but it is similar to most of the Greek pizzas in this town.
#2 G&D Pizza
"Lot's of beer in America!" I remember the staff at G&Ds yelling it out on a busy evening years ago when I first started going there. Some of the same staff (owners) are still there which make a difference in the restaurant trade. It is a great restaurant with a great Greek style pizza. My only problem is my laziness to drive to the opposite side of town to eat there.
#1 A Tie! George's and Italian Village
Do you want a great pizza with all the toppings? If you order a pizza from any one of these two places you cannot not go wrong. I have not had a bad pizza yet from them and try to go at least once a month. Italian Village is on Vandiver which requires me to drive but the pizza is worth it. George's is located two blocks away and is handy. George, the owner, is a colorful gentleman to talk to but I have been unable to talk to anyone at Italian Village because they are always busy.
Another good thing about their pizzas is the fact they are tasty the next morning cold for breakfast. What a way to start a day.
There you go, my list for my favorite pizza in Columbia. I foresee it to change as I have discovered several other restaurants that need to be tested. I will try to keep the blog updated as I get access to a computer at home. My next list may be hamburgers at non tradition restaurants which means I will order a burger from the menu at maybe a barbecue place. No McDonald's or Burger King here. I am looking for what I call the "Wow" factor, when you eat something and bells and whistles go off in your brain saying this is great. It is a hard job but I thing I will try it.
Until next time, good day.
Over the summer I have been on a quest looking for my favorite pizza in Columbia. It has been hard work but I came up with some surprises. Here is my list starting with my least favorite:
#10 Papa John's
Their product was never consistently good or bad, just okay. One thing about their pizza, it has a spice or combination of spices that put me to sleep. I'm not kidding! One time we bought it for the staff at work and it was hard to finish the day because everyone was so sleepy. I bought it once for a group of kids at my house and sure enough they all quieted down after eating, some of them nodding off. Maybe the original "Papa" John should check out his Columbia store to see if it meets the company standards. They had a special going for a one topping pizza at a great price so I go in, pay for it and the guy hands me a pizza. I commented on how fast that was and he said they had cooked a bunch of them up ahead of time because of the special. My pizza tasted like the box it was in which made me check to see if I was eating cardboard. Yuk!
#9 Pizza Hut
Bad service at their Clark Lane location and a mediocre product made an impression on me. The company once offered a speciality pizza, I can't remember what it was, so I tried to order it from the Clark Lane location and they were out of the special crust. So on another day I went to the store and ask for the same pizza and once again they had sold out. Okay, so it was popular, that's a good thing right? Again I go to the store and they won't even acknowledge me because everyone is playing around. I waited awhile and even tried to get someones attention but to no avail so I walked out and haven't bought anything from them since.
#8Domino's
They have a great delivery service but an above average mediocre pizza. My kids like the pizza so they order it on occasion and I of course steal a piece. There never seems to be a consistent product because we order the same pizza and sometimes it is good and other times it is terrible.
#7 Imo's
For a chain store they make a good pizza. I guess it is called a St. Louis style with the thin crust and square cut but all in all I like their pizza. The problem has been consistency. The last few times our pizza seemed to have less toppings and did not taste as good. They do deserve another chance.
#6 Kostaki's
They serve a good pizza but are soooooo far from where I live. They are located in the Cherry Hill Village in west Columbia and I did not even ask if they deliver to the far east edge of the city. If you live nearby they are worth checking out.
#5 Shakespeare's
Twenty years ago they were my favorite hand tossed pizza. Then Henry J's pizza came along and introduced me to thin crust which became my all time favorite. When Henry J's closed I started loving Shakespeare's again. Yes, I have fickle taste buds but as one is introduced to new things we sometimes change. And as some company's grow their product may not keep up in quality as I believe this may have happened to Shakespeare's. They have their west location and their frozen pizza business in grocery stores but I tried one of their frozen pizzas and it is not worth what I paid for it. I also think the ingredients have changed but I may be mistaken. The last time I was there one of scuzziest workers took my order and I watched the whole process to make sure he did not make my pizza. When I got home I found the pizza was not quite done but I ate it anyway. I will continue to go to Shakespeare's because of fond memories of great times and have a hope that the next pizza I eat there will be great.
#4 Arri's
This legendary Jeff City pizza place opened a location in south Columbia in the Kohl's shopping center. Some of my friends talked about going to Jeff City to eat this great pizza and they were happy that Arri's opened a store here. I tried it and it is good. It falls into the category of Greek pizzas and has an excellent sausage. I also talked to the manager who said the Jeff City location sometimes has an hour waiting time for customers so people from Jefferson City will drive up to Columbia to eat at the new location. The pizza here is worth the drive.
#3 Tony's
I have lived in Columbia for over twenty-five years and never ate at Tony's until recently. So many people recommended it that for research purposes I had to go. I was not disappointed but not that overly impressed. They serve a good pizza but it is similar to most of the Greek pizzas in this town.
#2 G&D Pizza
"Lot's of beer in America!" I remember the staff at G&Ds yelling it out on a busy evening years ago when I first started going there. Some of the same staff (owners) are still there which make a difference in the restaurant trade. It is a great restaurant with a great Greek style pizza. My only problem is my laziness to drive to the opposite side of town to eat there.
#1 A Tie! George's and Italian Village
Do you want a great pizza with all the toppings? If you order a pizza from any one of these two places you cannot not go wrong. I have not had a bad pizza yet from them and try to go at least once a month. Italian Village is on Vandiver which requires me to drive but the pizza is worth it. George's is located two blocks away and is handy. George, the owner, is a colorful gentleman to talk to but I have been unable to talk to anyone at Italian Village because they are always busy.
Another good thing about their pizzas is the fact they are tasty the next morning cold for breakfast. What a way to start a day.
There you go, my list for my favorite pizza in Columbia. I foresee it to change as I have discovered several other restaurants that need to be tested. I will try to keep the blog updated as I get access to a computer at home. My next list may be hamburgers at non tradition restaurants which means I will order a burger from the menu at maybe a barbecue place. No McDonald's or Burger King here. I am looking for what I call the "Wow" factor, when you eat something and bells and whistles go off in your brain saying this is great. It is a hard job but I thing I will try it.
Until next time, good day.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Memories of Columbia's Past Part 4
Wow, what a month it's been! With the kids out of school, adopting a dog and general crapola around the house I have been way too lax with my postings (sorry Mr. Ed). During this last month I have tried to collect my thoughts on past restaurants but find my memories are getting too vague. There are a lot of places I would like to write about such as Los Banditos, Katie Station and some of the chain restaurants that closed but my memories are not clear enough to share. I have decided to close this section of my site and reflect on my other interests. I have been collecting data to possibly start new sites on the following subjects:
-A site remembering Biscayne Mall, Columbia's last good mall.
-(Lets face it, Columbia Mall sucks! It is dull and uninteresting.)
-A site dedicated to Parkade Plaza, Columbia's first mall.
-( A dark, empty place trying to come back.)
-A site featuring Nowell's Grocery stores, an innovator for present day super markets.
-(So powerful it kept HyVee out of Columbia for years until Nowell's closed.)
-My search for the best pizza in Columbia.
-(The standard will be the large house special with everything.)
-A list of new restaurants opening in Columbia.
-(Even in a bad economy several have already opened.)
-A list of weird things around the Mid-Missouri area that catch my interest.
-(This will include old attractions and weird stories.)
In another week the kids will be back in school, the dog should be used to its new home and the renovations to the house should be near completion. All in all it has been a good summer even though I have been busy with taxi duties and entertaining bored teenagers. The weather has been excellent and everyone is healthy so I can't ask for a better time. More later.
-A site remembering Biscayne Mall, Columbia's last good mall.
-(Lets face it, Columbia Mall sucks! It is dull and uninteresting.)
-A site dedicated to Parkade Plaza, Columbia's first mall.
-( A dark, empty place trying to come back.)
-A site featuring Nowell's Grocery stores, an innovator for present day super markets.
-(So powerful it kept HyVee out of Columbia for years until Nowell's closed.)
-My search for the best pizza in Columbia.
-(The standard will be the large house special with everything.)
-A list of new restaurants opening in Columbia.
-(Even in a bad economy several have already opened.)
-A list of weird things around the Mid-Missouri area that catch my interest.
-(This will include old attractions and weird stories.)
In another week the kids will be back in school, the dog should be used to its new home and the renovations to the house should be near completion. All in all it has been a good summer even though I have been busy with taxi duties and entertaining bored teenagers. The weather has been excellent and everyone is healthy so I can't ask for a better time. More later.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Memories of Glenn's Cafe
Back in the 1980's a chef from New Orleans started a culinary sensation by taking Cajun cooking out of Louisiana and sharing his mouth watering recipes with the rest of the nation. His style of cooking by using a super hot iron skillet to "Blacken" fish and meat would soon be attempted by many of us as Cajun recipes became the rage. This style of cooking actually caused a shortage of red snapper in the U.S. and most restaurants had to stop selling that type fish for a while due to supply shortages. During the early stages of this craze a local chef named Steve Cupp opened a little restaurant on the Southwest end of Business Loop 70 offering Cajun dishes and some of his own creations. I don't know where the name of Glenn's Cafe came from, I guess it was there before Mr. Cupp opened his restaurant, but that name is still famous today in its latest incarnation located in Boonville.
Glenn's Cafe was small compared to most restaurants and you had to arrive early to get a good seat. Sometimes you would find yourself sharing a table with a stranger as they tried to seat as many customers as they could. My friends and I always to get there before the lunch or supper ush and would watch as the place filled up around us. We tried almost every item on the menu during our many visits there and found it all wonderful, except for this stuff called "pot liquor" which I guess was a broth made from boiled vegetables for stock. (It had a weird taste, almost like dishwater mixed with vegetable soup.) The owner watched all of us as we bought a round and drank it down. He and the waitress just smiled and moved on while we all tried to put on brave faces after drinking that muck. But the food was heaven; I loved the corn bread which was sweet and almost creamy when biting into it. The shrimp creole was awesomely spiced and the blackened pork chop was my favorite, but everyone loved the seafood gumbo and the bread pudding. At this time in history we were able to eat fresh, raw oysters from the Gulf Coast without catching some life threatening disease so we ate our fill.
Glenn's Cafe moved to a larger location on 9th St. with a varied menu mixed with Cajun and Southwestern dishes. The food was still awesome but more expensive. The place was always filled but did not have the same feeling as the older location as it looked so new and all. Since it grew out of our price range we ate there less, except for special occasions. Eventually it closed for reasons unknown to me and finally opened up recently at a hotel in downtown Boonville. I wish I could remember the time line but the dates are vague. I do plan on trying Steve Cupp's new location sometime in the future and who knows, if they are available I might slide a few raw oysters down for old times sake.
Glenn's Cafe was small compared to most restaurants and you had to arrive early to get a good seat. Sometimes you would find yourself sharing a table with a stranger as they tried to seat as many customers as they could. My friends and I always to get there before the lunch or supper ush and would watch as the place filled up around us. We tried almost every item on the menu during our many visits there and found it all wonderful, except for this stuff called "pot liquor" which I guess was a broth made from boiled vegetables for stock. (It had a weird taste, almost like dishwater mixed with vegetable soup.) The owner watched all of us as we bought a round and drank it down. He and the waitress just smiled and moved on while we all tried to put on brave faces after drinking that muck. But the food was heaven; I loved the corn bread which was sweet and almost creamy when biting into it. The shrimp creole was awesomely spiced and the blackened pork chop was my favorite, but everyone loved the seafood gumbo and the bread pudding. At this time in history we were able to eat fresh, raw oysters from the Gulf Coast without catching some life threatening disease so we ate our fill.
Glenn's Cafe moved to a larger location on 9th St. with a varied menu mixed with Cajun and Southwestern dishes. The food was still awesome but more expensive. The place was always filled but did not have the same feeling as the older location as it looked so new and all. Since it grew out of our price range we ate there less, except for special occasions. Eventually it closed for reasons unknown to me and finally opened up recently at a hotel in downtown Boonville. I wish I could remember the time line but the dates are vague. I do plan on trying Steve Cupp's new location sometime in the future and who knows, if they are available I might slide a few raw oysters down for old times sake.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Memories of the 63 Diner
I really regret not eating at the 63 Diner as much as I should have. The food was great and it was always an experience since I never seemed to have enough room for my elbows. I always went with small groups and the waitress would stuff us together in a small booth. Every one's food would be delivered covering the small tabletop enticing you to grab a bite from someones plate. And the joy of eating shoulder to shoulder reminded me of a Army Mess Hall where you had little room to spread out.
One of the charms of the Diner was the size, it was small which meant you had to wait in a line for a table. I remember going there at 3PM and having to wait for a table. But if the restaurant had been any larger it would have lost it's charm. It was full of 1950's decor and was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I would notice something different each time I ate there, a poster or hub cap or an advertisement sign from the past. My main regret is not trying something different from the menu. I always ordered a cheeseburger and fries which I thought was excellent so why should I change. To this day when I go to a restaurant I will order something different from the menu because you never know how long they will be in business.
The 63 Diner closed recently making the local news. The new owners could not get out of debt even with all the business they had. It was said by those in the know the group of people who bought the place paid way too much for it and partner after partner tried to get out of their share of the business. There is still hope that the 63 Diner may reopen with new owners but I think that may be too late. If it does reopen I will definitely order something other than the classic cheeseburger and fries.
One of the charms of the Diner was the size, it was small which meant you had to wait in a line for a table. I remember going there at 3PM and having to wait for a table. But if the restaurant had been any larger it would have lost it's charm. It was full of 1950's decor and was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I would notice something different each time I ate there, a poster or hub cap or an advertisement sign from the past. My main regret is not trying something different from the menu. I always ordered a cheeseburger and fries which I thought was excellent so why should I change. To this day when I go to a restaurant I will order something different from the menu because you never know how long they will be in business.
The 63 Diner closed recently making the local news. The new owners could not get out of debt even with all the business they had. It was said by those in the know the group of people who bought the place paid way too much for it and partner after partner tried to get out of their share of the business. There is still hope that the 63 Diner may reopen with new owners but I think that may be too late. If it does reopen I will definitely order something other than the classic cheeseburger and fries.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Memories of Perkin's
Next to Ryan's was a nice, little chain restaurant called Perkin's which specialised in bakery items and a standard sit down restaurant menu. It started out great with baked chicken, roast beef and roast turkey entrees that were all first rate and you could get a selection of vegetable sides with your meal which made it more popular with us than the burger joints. The kids loved Perkin's creamed spinach and wanted to go there just for that. We went there several times and then just quit going to Perkin's for a while for reasons I can't remember at this time. What a surprise we had the next time we ate their.
The last time we went to Perkin's was a fiasco. There were few customers there and I guess the restaurant was training a new waiter who had no idea what he was doing. I had to get up and remind him we were waiting to order. All the time we were there we smelled a sewer odor which came from the back. I noticed that the manager and cashier were joking around and did not seem to help the poor guy trying to wait on us. Of course they did not have the creamed spinach the kids wanted so we substituted with some tasteless carrots. The food took a long time to come out and it was almost cold but the waiter did not have a clue what was going on so we went ahead and ate. When I paid for the meal the manager didn't even ask how the food was, probably noticing my demeanor at the register. It was one of the few times I did not leave a tip because we did not plan on coming back.
Some time later I read in the Tribune that the Health Department closed Perkin's for seventeen violations, one being sewer problems that backed up in the kitchen. The manager was quoted in saying they were going to get everything fixed and reopen as soon as possible. I do not know if they ever did. Soon after that we were visiting Disney World in Florida and needed to eat. We were tired of double cheeseburgers from McDonalds so we decide to take a chance on the local Perkin's. We were seated promptly in a very clean dining room. The food came out hot and the kids had their creamed spinach. It was a good experience from and old, lost friend. I have heard good things about the Jefferson City Perkin's but never wanted to drive up there to check it out, even for there creamed spinach.
The last time we went to Perkin's was a fiasco. There were few customers there and I guess the restaurant was training a new waiter who had no idea what he was doing. I had to get up and remind him we were waiting to order. All the time we were there we smelled a sewer odor which came from the back. I noticed that the manager and cashier were joking around and did not seem to help the poor guy trying to wait on us. Of course they did not have the creamed spinach the kids wanted so we substituted with some tasteless carrots. The food took a long time to come out and it was almost cold but the waiter did not have a clue what was going on so we went ahead and ate. When I paid for the meal the manager didn't even ask how the food was, probably noticing my demeanor at the register. It was one of the few times I did not leave a tip because we did not plan on coming back.
Some time later I read in the Tribune that the Health Department closed Perkin's for seventeen violations, one being sewer problems that backed up in the kitchen. The manager was quoted in saying they were going to get everything fixed and reopen as soon as possible. I do not know if they ever did. Soon after that we were visiting Disney World in Florida and needed to eat. We were tired of double cheeseburgers from McDonalds so we decide to take a chance on the local Perkin's. We were seated promptly in a very clean dining room. The food came out hot and the kids had their creamed spinach. It was a good experience from and old, lost friend. I have heard good things about the Jefferson City Perkin's but never wanted to drive up there to check it out, even for there creamed spinach.
Memories of Ryan's
After several weeks dealing with repairs on my computer I thought I would write about several broken restaurants that started off good then went bust. Ryan's was a steakhouse/buffet on West I-70 Drive which was one of those restaurants with a good start. Their buffet was large and the quality was better than most with their hot rolls taking center stage. I guess if you ate a lot of these good tasting rolls you would eat less food, thus Ryan's would make more profit. Our family went there several times a month through the few years Ryan's was opened and we noticed it going down hill towards the end. First the quality of the food went down such as more inedible stems in the green beans, the rolls became tasteless and dried out food was served that seemed to be too old for serving. There were staffing changes where they were less attentive to your needs and fewer wait staff in number. And the cleanliness of the restaurant changed drastically towards the end with dirty floors and piled up dishes sharing some empty tables. We just quit going because the quality was not there for the price of four people eating from the buffet.
Several interesting things happened at Ryan's worth noting. There was a Harley Davidson convention somewhere, it might of been in that town in South Dakota, but when we arrived the restaurant was full of rough and rowdy looking bikers dressed in their leather and tie dyed garb. I liked it because compared to them I was the skinniest guy there. These guys were huge, not just fat but huge, like from a bad biker movie of the 1960's. Even their women were large. All of them were well behaved and noticeably courteous so there were not any fights or other things expected of Hell's Angels. And on our last visit to Ryan's we had the pleasure of sitting next to a family who had a sick child. This kid whined and the parents talked loudly trying to please him. This kid finally threw up all over the table with the parents once again talking loudly to him. The wait staff did not seem to know what needed to be done and the parents did clean up the table. We were lucky because there was little odor, because the putrid food smell was coming from the buffet table, I believe it was a steamed fish dish. After throwing up the kid was fine and started eating. The parents, except for the little time it took to clean up the vomit, quieted down and continued eating. It was a fitting end for us and we never came back.
Several interesting things happened at Ryan's worth noting. There was a Harley Davidson convention somewhere, it might of been in that town in South Dakota, but when we arrived the restaurant was full of rough and rowdy looking bikers dressed in their leather and tie dyed garb. I liked it because compared to them I was the skinniest guy there. These guys were huge, not just fat but huge, like from a bad biker movie of the 1960's. Even their women were large. All of them were well behaved and noticeably courteous so there were not any fights or other things expected of Hell's Angels. And on our last visit to Ryan's we had the pleasure of sitting next to a family who had a sick child. This kid whined and the parents talked loudly trying to please him. This kid finally threw up all over the table with the parents once again talking loudly to him. The wait staff did not seem to know what needed to be done and the parents did clean up the table. We were lucky because there was little odor, because the putrid food smell was coming from the buffet table, I believe it was a steamed fish dish. After throwing up the kid was fine and started eating. The parents, except for the little time it took to clean up the vomit, quieted down and continued eating. It was a fitting end for us and we never came back.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Memories of Columbia's Past Part 3
Several people have asked why I haven't added any more restaurants to my list. Well The blasted hard drive on my computer went out and I just got the thing working again. During this hiatus I have been thinking of more restaurants to include on the list but my memory gets hazier as the number goes down. I still have a few places to write about but I am trying to collect my thoughts on the individual restaurants and why I found them interesting. In the mean time I am working on another blog which lists the old movie theaters that have been in Columbia and I am collecting information to create blogs on the old Biscayne Mall and Nowell's grocery stores.
Some people say I am wasting my time remembering stores that are no longer here, but I feel a sense of nostalgia when thinking and writing about these places. I as not satisfied with most of the stores in Columbia and feel the Columbia Mall is a wasteland for consumers. There are very few, if any locally owned stores in that mall and the chain stores located in this cesspool are the same stores located in malls all across the country. I talked to a business owner who's store had to leave the mall because a chain store was expanding. This gentleman said mall management tries to get rid of locally owned stores in favor of chain stores. That is his opinion but he was forced out. Unfortunately it is not just mall management but the nature of business. Think back when the Columbia Mall first opened and had such interesting shops: toy shops, book shops, music shops, arcades, etc. I realize the Internet and Wal-Mart have changed the way people shop but I also believe major stores and mall management tell us how to shop by charging the businesses extremely high rents limiting the types of stores that can open.
There is one good thing I must say about the Columbia Mall. They have done a wonderful job of controlling the gangs of kids that spread havoc on Friday and Saturday evenings. And with the increased security it does seem safer. Yes, I do have to shop at the mall but I try not to. I have made a better effort to shop at local stores whenever possible but there are so few offering so little. At this time my friend Mr. Ed is asking "What about the restaurants?" I will get to them in time but I must rant and rave a little. Coming up are memories of Katy Station, Haden House, Yen Ching and 63 Diner, but I will wait for another evening. A movie awaits to be watched. A person must have priorities.
Some people say I am wasting my time remembering stores that are no longer here, but I feel a sense of nostalgia when thinking and writing about these places. I as not satisfied with most of the stores in Columbia and feel the Columbia Mall is a wasteland for consumers. There are very few, if any locally owned stores in that mall and the chain stores located in this cesspool are the same stores located in malls all across the country. I talked to a business owner who's store had to leave the mall because a chain store was expanding. This gentleman said mall management tries to get rid of locally owned stores in favor of chain stores. That is his opinion but he was forced out. Unfortunately it is not just mall management but the nature of business. Think back when the Columbia Mall first opened and had such interesting shops: toy shops, book shops, music shops, arcades, etc. I realize the Internet and Wal-Mart have changed the way people shop but I also believe major stores and mall management tell us how to shop by charging the businesses extremely high rents limiting the types of stores that can open.
There is one good thing I must say about the Columbia Mall. They have done a wonderful job of controlling the gangs of kids that spread havoc on Friday and Saturday evenings. And with the increased security it does seem safer. Yes, I do have to shop at the mall but I try not to. I have made a better effort to shop at local stores whenever possible but there are so few offering so little. At this time my friend Mr. Ed is asking "What about the restaurants?" I will get to them in time but I must rant and rave a little. Coming up are memories of Katy Station, Haden House, Yen Ching and 63 Diner, but I will wait for another evening. A movie awaits to be watched. A person must have priorities.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Memories of Godfather's Pizza
Years ago Columbia had a Godfather's Pizza across the street from the police station. College students being the pizza addicts we were went there for some fairly good pizza, drinks and the video games. Actually the main thing I remember about Godfather's were the video game tables where you could sit and play things like PAC -Man and other early titles. The pizza did not inspire any great memories but I remember going there with friends and having a good time.
I do remember the pizza toppings as the Canadian bacon was cut into small cubes or maybe it wasn't what I thought. The television commercials were a hoot with a gangster wearing a wide brim hat imploring you to go eat their pizza. I believe at the time there were some problems with the commercials because it portrayed Italians in a negative way. The ads were comical to say the least. If anyone else can add anything to this entry please let me know as my memory is vague at this time.
I do remember the pizza toppings as the Canadian bacon was cut into small cubes or maybe it wasn't what I thought. The television commercials were a hoot with a gangster wearing a wide brim hat imploring you to go eat their pizza. I believe at the time there were some problems with the commercials because it portrayed Italians in a negative way. The ads were comical to say the least. If anyone else can add anything to this entry please let me know as my memory is vague at this time.
Memories of Tina's Pizza and Steak
One day at work I was surprised by a maintenance man who said he visited a new restaurant and that the owner asked him to say hello to me. He could not remember her last name and the description he gave did not help so I felt obligated to find out who this person was. When I entered Tina's I recognised her right away as an old employee who worked for me years ago when she was in high school. I knew her mom and dad real well but I never kept up with what Tina was doing. I remember hearing she had gotten married to a Mexican gentleman and they had several kids but I never expected to see her running a restaurant.
Tina and her husband Saul rented the old Denny's location on Texas Ave. and completely renovated the seating area. I had learned from conversations from Saul that he had worked at George's for many years while it was on the Business Loop. The menu at Tina's was greatly influenced by George's as almost everything offered was the same. As the months went by I noticed that the menu was changing as Mexican dishes were added and I felt Tina's seemed to be breaking away from the Greek style pizza places it resembled when it first opened.
I found the food there first rate with the pizza being outstanding. I always ordered the House Special which was a traditional Greek style pizza but piled high with toppings. It was awesome!
My kids would always order the Chicken Alfredo dish and loved it. I also tried several of their Mexican dishes which I felt was excellent but the serving size was too big. The last time I went there the place was full and it took a long time to get my food. Poor Saul was cooking by himself and was having a hard time keeping up. The food was still good but it just took a long time to get it. Soon after my last visit I heard Tina's had closed and I felt sad because they tried really hard to make it a go. I had known that the old Denny's location was in bad shape before they opened their restaurant. People in the food industry share stories of old restaurants and problems they had. The Denny's location had multiple physical problems and even though Tina and her husband fixed the seating area there were other problems behind the scenes. High costs and taxes probably added to the problems.
In a conversation I had with Saul he told me of his life in Mexico and how hard it was to become successful there. He came to this country and worked hard for a long time but had faith in the American dream that so many immigrants before him shared. He eventually got his citizenship, married, had children and opened his own restaurant. I have not talked to Saul since the restaurant closed down but I believe he will be back. He helped revive my faith in this country and how good we have it. We sometimes forget how blessed we are until we talk to someone like him who appreciates those things we take for granted.
Tina and her husband Saul rented the old Denny's location on Texas Ave. and completely renovated the seating area. I had learned from conversations from Saul that he had worked at George's for many years while it was on the Business Loop. The menu at Tina's was greatly influenced by George's as almost everything offered was the same. As the months went by I noticed that the menu was changing as Mexican dishes were added and I felt Tina's seemed to be breaking away from the Greek style pizza places it resembled when it first opened.
I found the food there first rate with the pizza being outstanding. I always ordered the House Special which was a traditional Greek style pizza but piled high with toppings. It was awesome!
My kids would always order the Chicken Alfredo dish and loved it. I also tried several of their Mexican dishes which I felt was excellent but the serving size was too big. The last time I went there the place was full and it took a long time to get my food. Poor Saul was cooking by himself and was having a hard time keeping up. The food was still good but it just took a long time to get it. Soon after my last visit I heard Tina's had closed and I felt sad because they tried really hard to make it a go. I had known that the old Denny's location was in bad shape before they opened their restaurant. People in the food industry share stories of old restaurants and problems they had. The Denny's location had multiple physical problems and even though Tina and her husband fixed the seating area there were other problems behind the scenes. High costs and taxes probably added to the problems.
In a conversation I had with Saul he told me of his life in Mexico and how hard it was to become successful there. He came to this country and worked hard for a long time but had faith in the American dream that so many immigrants before him shared. He eventually got his citizenship, married, had children and opened his own restaurant. I have not talked to Saul since the restaurant closed down but I believe he will be back. He helped revive my faith in this country and how good we have it. We sometimes forget how blessed we are until we talk to someone like him who appreciates those things we take for granted.
Memories of Peking Restaurant
Writing about Chou's Buffet made me remember one of Columbia's better Chinese restaurants called Peking. It was located about half way down the East side of Ninth St. and it served many wonderful and tasty Chinese dishes. You paid more for the quality of the food but I feel you got your money's worth compared to the buffet type restaurants. Even though they have reopened I still feel it deserves a place in my blog.
Once you walked in the door you noticed all the red and gold colors that was everywhere. The Chinese find these colors very auspicious as they bring "luck" and "wealth" so they use them whenever possible. One of my coworkers Mary C. remembered the place as "elegant" and for Columbia I believe that to be true. The dining area was spacious and I believe I remember stairs in back that went up to a private party area.
But thinking about the food I hit a wall, I cannot remember anything outstanding that otherwise blew my mind. I do remember paying more for what I felt was less (remember I love buffets) but I do not have any bad remembrances of their food. Peking closed for reasons unknown to me but reopened some years later in a much, much smaller location on Green Meadows Rd. As much as I hate going to South Columbia, I will make a trip to eat there at this new location. Some of the same decor of the Ninth St. location is there and the owners are nice. The food is excellent so if anyone gets a chance give it a try. Until next time.
Once you walked in the door you noticed all the red and gold colors that was everywhere. The Chinese find these colors very auspicious as they bring "luck" and "wealth" so they use them whenever possible. One of my coworkers Mary C. remembered the place as "elegant" and for Columbia I believe that to be true. The dining area was spacious and I believe I remember stairs in back that went up to a private party area.
But thinking about the food I hit a wall, I cannot remember anything outstanding that otherwise blew my mind. I do remember paying more for what I felt was less (remember I love buffets) but I do not have any bad remembrances of their food. Peking closed for reasons unknown to me but reopened some years later in a much, much smaller location on Green Meadows Rd. As much as I hate going to South Columbia, I will make a trip to eat there at this new location. Some of the same decor of the Ninth St. location is there and the owners are nice. The food is excellent so if anyone gets a chance give it a try. Until next time.
Memories of Chou's Buffet
Columbia has had a host of buffet type restaurants serving different cuisines but I will always remember Chou's Buffet as my favorite when it came to Chinese food. For a low price a person was able to fill up on a host of wonderfully flavored Chinese dishes. Other Chinese buffets, which are still around today, may have a lot of choices but all the food seemed to have a similiar taste, like they were cooked with the same sauce. At Chou's each dish had a unique look and taste that stimulated my taste buds. Now for some people this place may not have had the best Chinese food but for the cost you could not beat the quality.
I believe it was started by Dave Chou more than twenty years ago when he and his wife were attending MU. His sons helped out and I got to know one of them, Sam, thru another business he started, an auto repair shop that he built right behind the restraurant. This repair shop was awesome with excellent service and good prices. One time a belt came off my Mazda on a Friday evening and I had it towed to Sam's shop. It was closed at the time but I remembered he also worked at the restaurant so I went over to see if I could find him. I was directed to the back kitchen where Sam had an apron on and was cooking items for the buffet. He was friendly as always and we talked about my problem with the Mazda. In comes the auto repair office manager who was helping out by delivering food that evening. They took the keys to the car and told me to call the shop first thing Saturday morning. Well the office manager called me at home early the next day and said they had repaired the car and it was ready to pick up. There was no charge because the belt had been put on by them and was still under warranty. What service!
In the months that followed I had more car problems so I was able to talk to Sam more about the restaurant. He related that his parents were older now and they should not work as hard as they have over the years. Finding good help for the restaurant was hard and he himself was more interested in automobiles then running a restaurant as the hours were better and not so time consuming. They closed the restaurant during Christmas break and never opened it back up for a long time. He got married and experienced small micro breweries and wanted to open one in Columbia. Sam sold his auto repair place and renovated the old Chou's Buffet location and with a friend who knew how to make beer opened the Grindstone Brewing Company. That may be a blog entry in itself so I won't go any further. So ends my entry regarding Chou's Buffet and I hope others can remember more detail. My question to the readers, did they have a Japanese style steak house area in an elevated area of the Chou's? Let me know.
I believe it was started by Dave Chou more than twenty years ago when he and his wife were attending MU. His sons helped out and I got to know one of them, Sam, thru another business he started, an auto repair shop that he built right behind the restraurant. This repair shop was awesome with excellent service and good prices. One time a belt came off my Mazda on a Friday evening and I had it towed to Sam's shop. It was closed at the time but I remembered he also worked at the restaurant so I went over to see if I could find him. I was directed to the back kitchen where Sam had an apron on and was cooking items for the buffet. He was friendly as always and we talked about my problem with the Mazda. In comes the auto repair office manager who was helping out by delivering food that evening. They took the keys to the car and told me to call the shop first thing Saturday morning. Well the office manager called me at home early the next day and said they had repaired the car and it was ready to pick up. There was no charge because the belt had been put on by them and was still under warranty. What service!
In the months that followed I had more car problems so I was able to talk to Sam more about the restaurant. He related that his parents were older now and they should not work as hard as they have over the years. Finding good help for the restaurant was hard and he himself was more interested in automobiles then running a restaurant as the hours were better and not so time consuming. They closed the restaurant during Christmas break and never opened it back up for a long time. He got married and experienced small micro breweries and wanted to open one in Columbia. Sam sold his auto repair place and renovated the old Chou's Buffet location and with a friend who knew how to make beer opened the Grindstone Brewing Company. That may be a blog entry in itself so I won't go any further. So ends my entry regarding Chou's Buffet and I hope others can remember more detail. My question to the readers, did they have a Japanese style steak house area in an elevated area of the Chou's? Let me know.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Memories of Ed's Cafe
One of the first restaurants (or greasy spoons) I was introduced to in Columbia was this little place on the corner of Broadway and maybe Third or Fourth ST. I think there is a Chinese/Vietnamese place there now but I am not sure of the exact location. Anyway, Ed's Cafe was known for its daily specials and good stick to your ribs type food (with a lot of grease). I always ordered burger with fries which I thought was safe but my friends were used to the place and ordered the specials with no regrets.
My fondest memory of Ed's Cafe was the menu which was painted on a wall. It had the standard menu selections every little restaurant could offer but I will always remember the Scrambled Eggs and Brains that you could order. There it was on the wall but I know of no one who ever ordered it. Only one other restaurant comes to mind that offered Scrambled Eggs and Brains and that was the Spot Cafe in downtown Fulton.
Ed's Cafe closed because of a fire but the the building survived. I may appear to be hard on this place because it was clean in a way but old with that kind of run down look. It served good food and was popular with the locals and college crowd but it just wasn't around long enough for me to enjoy the food to the fullest. Although, the thought of Scrambled Eggs with Brains does come around sometimes, and I get misty eyed and I think old restaurants never die, they just burn down, but their memories remain.
My fondest memory of Ed's Cafe was the menu which was painted on a wall. It had the standard menu selections every little restaurant could offer but I will always remember the Scrambled Eggs and Brains that you could order. There it was on the wall but I know of no one who ever ordered it. Only one other restaurant comes to mind that offered Scrambled Eggs and Brains and that was the Spot Cafe in downtown Fulton.
Ed's Cafe closed because of a fire but the the building survived. I may appear to be hard on this place because it was clean in a way but old with that kind of run down look. It served good food and was popular with the locals and college crowd but it just wasn't around long enough for me to enjoy the food to the fullest. Although, the thought of Scrambled Eggs with Brains does come around sometimes, and I get misty eyed and I think old restaurants never die, they just burn down, but their memories remain.
Memories of the Flaming Pit Restaurant
No list of old Columbia restaurants would be complete without the Flaming Pit Restaurant which still comes up in conversations as a favorite memory of the locals. Located at the Eastern entrance of Parkade Plaza, this restaurant was known for the good food with adults and a favorite with children because of its treasure box of little gifts and the little umbrellas put in their drinks.
I never ate supper there but went to their lunch buffet several times with my friends. We would go for the great price and the huge amount of food offered on the buffet. I felt the food quality was just okay but for the price I thought it was worth it. Later on we discovered the Flaming Pit's Happy Hour in their wonderful little bar area with the extremely comfortable chairs. We would get there early before the crowd and leave before it got too crowded with patrons. Those too few Happy Hour meetings were a lot of fun with great friends and outstanding conversations and are wonderful memories, no matter if they are incomplete. So there you are readers, I finally put the Flaming Pit on my list and would like to hear other people's memories of one of Columbia's past great restaurants. Let us know your thoughts on this restaurant.
I never ate supper there but went to their lunch buffet several times with my friends. We would go for the great price and the huge amount of food offered on the buffet. I felt the food quality was just okay but for the price I thought it was worth it. Later on we discovered the Flaming Pit's Happy Hour in their wonderful little bar area with the extremely comfortable chairs. We would get there early before the crowd and leave before it got too crowded with patrons. Those too few Happy Hour meetings were a lot of fun with great friends and outstanding conversations and are wonderful memories, no matter if they are incomplete. So there you are readers, I finally put the Flaming Pit on my list and would like to hear other people's memories of one of Columbia's past great restaurants. Let us know your thoughts on this restaurant.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Memories of Shorty's Fried Chicken
I was talking to several coworkers today about their remembrances of Shorty's Fried Chicken and all anyone could agree on was its' mediocre service. It was sad because the chicken was not half bad. Shorty's Fried Chicken showed up in the mid to late 1970's around the Central Missouri area. I had just returned to Fulton after three years in the army and got my old job back as a manager of the KFC store in Fulton. My district manager at the time talked about this chicken place in Columbia that "stole" all the secrets from the Kentucky Fried Chicken playbook. After being trained at the KFC University in Louisville KY, trainees were given a large notebook full of recipes and procedures on how to run a store. Apparently someone got a copy of one of these notebooks and started their own restaurant chain. Having never ate at Shorty's I did not think much about it until I moved to Columbia in 1979.
Shorty's had two locations in town and maybe the same number in Jefferson City, at least that is what I remember at this time. They had a pretty good business and I had heard through the KFC pipeline that they put the Columbia KFCs to shame as far as quality and sales. (One secret was that both KFC and Shorty's shared the same chicken supplier and they would ask how much raw chicken was delivered to Shorty's.) I must admit, even though I am a Kentucky Fried Chicken man through and through, Columbia KFC locations were terrible as the food tasted bad and the stores were dirty. It was no wonder Shorty's took away their business.
Two things changed at KFC which may have been brought on by Shorty's influence. First, fresh baked biscuits were offered at Shorty's but at the time KFC only had tasteless, thawed out rolls that were heated to make them soft. Second was the way they cut the chicken. KFC had a nine piece cut that resulted in three white meat pieces, a keel or breast and two ribs that each had a small portion of the breast. Shorty's had a eight piece cut that resulted in two halves of the chicken breast that were large. The quality of their side orders was nothing to write about and to this day I cannot remember if they were good. The main thing I remember is the left over chicken that was available the next day. Shorty's sold cold chicken that was left over and it tasted better than the fresh fried product. I would go there when they first opened, usually the Paris Rd. location and buy the day old chicken. Nothing much comes back to me as far as memories.
I have searched the Internet and found nothing to help my memory of this restaurant chain. It did have a series of television commercials of the owner's mother or grandmother walking around with music and someone talking in the background on how great her food was. I think the lady actually lived in Sturgeon or someplace north of Columbia. Once again I quit going to Shorty's for reasons unknown and they had disappeared from the local business landscape before I knew they were gone. I would welcome input on any other info regarding Shorty's from the reading masses and even Mr. Ed if he can remember. Until next time.
Shorty's had two locations in town and maybe the same number in Jefferson City, at least that is what I remember at this time. They had a pretty good business and I had heard through the KFC pipeline that they put the Columbia KFCs to shame as far as quality and sales. (One secret was that both KFC and Shorty's shared the same chicken supplier and they would ask how much raw chicken was delivered to Shorty's.) I must admit, even though I am a Kentucky Fried Chicken man through and through, Columbia KFC locations were terrible as the food tasted bad and the stores were dirty. It was no wonder Shorty's took away their business.
Two things changed at KFC which may have been brought on by Shorty's influence. First, fresh baked biscuits were offered at Shorty's but at the time KFC only had tasteless, thawed out rolls that were heated to make them soft. Second was the way they cut the chicken. KFC had a nine piece cut that resulted in three white meat pieces, a keel or breast and two ribs that each had a small portion of the breast. Shorty's had a eight piece cut that resulted in two halves of the chicken breast that were large. The quality of their side orders was nothing to write about and to this day I cannot remember if they were good. The main thing I remember is the left over chicken that was available the next day. Shorty's sold cold chicken that was left over and it tasted better than the fresh fried product. I would go there when they first opened, usually the Paris Rd. location and buy the day old chicken. Nothing much comes back to me as far as memories.
I have searched the Internet and found nothing to help my memory of this restaurant chain. It did have a series of television commercials of the owner's mother or grandmother walking around with music and someone talking in the background on how great her food was. I think the lady actually lived in Sturgeon or someplace north of Columbia. Once again I quit going to Shorty's for reasons unknown and they had disappeared from the local business landscape before I knew they were gone. I would welcome input on any other info regarding Shorty's from the reading masses and even Mr. Ed if he can remember. Until next time.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Memories of Henry J's
One of the best restaurants to open downtown in the 1980's was a St. Louis style pizza place called Henry J's. Located on 9th St. near the MU campus, this wonderful restaurant served thin crust pizzas and a zesty Italian salad that were both extremely tasty. One year it was voted to having the best tasting pizza in Columbia by a columnist in the Tribune, which was interesting because the restaurant was partly owned by Hank Waters who happened to own the Trib.
My friend Ted Z. and I tried out Henry J's when it first opened and ordered a large pizza with everything, including anchovies. The pizza tasted so good that we ordered another large one after only eating two pieces, my goodness it was great! They had a tossed Italian salad with almost everything in it mixed with a dressing that tasted like heaven, not too heavy or light but just right. Add a couple of beers to the meal and once again Pizza Nirvana was reached.
Another great memory was a classmate whose father managed the restaurant. Michelle had an evening class with me at Columbia College and was a joy to know. She had a wonderful smile and a bubbling personality who brought joy to everyone around her. My fellow classmates and I were jealous of her boyfriend because she was such a nice person to be around. I was surprised to see her at Henry J's one evening where I was told she was helping out her dad and she seemed so happy to see us. We heard her laugh all evening while we ate and she came over whenever she could to visit us. When the semester was over we lost track of everyone and I heard that Michelle had got married. For some reason we did not go to Henry J's much after that and then I read that it had closed. It could possibly be the best pizza I ever ate and boy do I miss it and the good times we had there.
My friend Ted Z. and I tried out Henry J's when it first opened and ordered a large pizza with everything, including anchovies. The pizza tasted so good that we ordered another large one after only eating two pieces, my goodness it was great! They had a tossed Italian salad with almost everything in it mixed with a dressing that tasted like heaven, not too heavy or light but just right. Add a couple of beers to the meal and once again Pizza Nirvana was reached.
Another great memory was a classmate whose father managed the restaurant. Michelle had an evening class with me at Columbia College and was a joy to know. She had a wonderful smile and a bubbling personality who brought joy to everyone around her. My fellow classmates and I were jealous of her boyfriend because she was such a nice person to be around. I was surprised to see her at Henry J's one evening where I was told she was helping out her dad and she seemed so happy to see us. We heard her laugh all evening while we ate and she came over whenever she could to visit us. When the semester was over we lost track of everyone and I heard that Michelle had got married. For some reason we did not go to Henry J's much after that and then I read that it had closed. It could possibly be the best pizza I ever ate and boy do I miss it and the good times we had there.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Memories of Showbiz Pizza
Showbiz Pizza was one of those chain restaurants that came and went in the 1980's. This new restaurant was located in a small shopping center on Broadway between Providence Rd. and Stadium and it would be unlike any other pizza place in Columbia. With a large arcade of games and animatronic characters performing on stage, it was like a little Disneyland in the Midwest. You could sit around the stage to watch and listen as the animatronic animals did their thing and I believe there may have been some interaction between the audience and the characters which added to the attraction.
At the time I was working at Woodhaven Learning Center which took care of mentally and/or physically handicapped children and young adults. In those early days the state of Missouri gave the clients enough money so we could sometimes take a group there to eat and enjoy the shows. It was a blast watching the expressions on their faces as the animatronic animals performed and sing funny songs. Taking those kids out was always a high point in my life because they knew how to have fun and not worry about what other people thought. Unfortunately the state started cutting funds so we had to quit going out. I regret not going to Showbiz on my own because it closed for a while and reopened under a new name, perhaps Piccadilly's, but I am not sure on that detail. Soon that place closed and another pizza place bit the dust. I checked on the Internet and Showbiz has several fan websites with photos of the various characters and personal stories of people who enjoyed the experience. And I believe Chucky Cheese took over the Showbiz Pizza company and they have opened a small location here in Columbia.
At the time I was working at Woodhaven Learning Center which took care of mentally and/or physically handicapped children and young adults. In those early days the state of Missouri gave the clients enough money so we could sometimes take a group there to eat and enjoy the shows. It was a blast watching the expressions on their faces as the animatronic animals performed and sing funny songs. Taking those kids out was always a high point in my life because they knew how to have fun and not worry about what other people thought. Unfortunately the state started cutting funds so we had to quit going out. I regret not going to Showbiz on my own because it closed for a while and reopened under a new name, perhaps Piccadilly's, but I am not sure on that detail. Soon that place closed and another pizza place bit the dust. I checked on the Internet and Showbiz has several fan websites with photos of the various characters and personal stories of people who enjoyed the experience. And I believe Chucky Cheese took over the Showbiz Pizza company and they have opened a small location here in Columbia.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memories of Minsky's Pizza
Once again the 1980's found another pizza place move into Columbia. This restaurant, called Minsky's Pizza, was out of the Kansas City area and it opened in a location downtown on Broadway. It was a two story place with a long bar and one of the first big screen TV projectors for everyone to watch games on. There were more tables upstairs with a dumbwaiter that delivered food from the kitchen located on the ground level. At least that's what I think; it may have been different so someone please let me know otherwise. The restaurant was well used by us because the pizza was good and it offered excellent seating for big groups.
At that time the storeroom group who I worked with at the hospital would meet whenever possible at a local restaurant or bar for a good time. While at work it was a common known fact that there was a "Tumor Conference" at least once a week somewhere in the hospital because it was always announced by the overhead system. We decided to go our own route and start "Humor Conferences" at Minsky's since it had just opened. These unofficial conferences went on about every other week and soon grew to include other members of the hospital staff. We even had a vice president show up once. I remember the group got quite big with all of us having a great time laughing, eating and drinking. Soon afterward the storeroom dynamics began to change as coworkers transferred out while some moved away. Then the storeroom moved to a huge warehouse which kind of ended most of our festivities. I believed the meetings at Minsky's went on even with the storeroom staff not attending. We had started something popular and passed it on to others while we went different routes. Minsky's closed with little fanfare and a new place called Mazzios opened up. It closed soon afterward and I have no idea what is there now. Every once in a while I think about going to Kansas City to eat at a Minsky's, perhaps I will get a group together someday for a road trip.
At that time the storeroom group who I worked with at the hospital would meet whenever possible at a local restaurant or bar for a good time. While at work it was a common known fact that there was a "Tumor Conference" at least once a week somewhere in the hospital because it was always announced by the overhead system. We decided to go our own route and start "Humor Conferences" at Minsky's since it had just opened. These unofficial conferences went on about every other week and soon grew to include other members of the hospital staff. We even had a vice president show up once. I remember the group got quite big with all of us having a great time laughing, eating and drinking. Soon afterward the storeroom dynamics began to change as coworkers transferred out while some moved away. Then the storeroom moved to a huge warehouse which kind of ended most of our festivities. I believed the meetings at Minsky's went on even with the storeroom staff not attending. We had started something popular and passed it on to others while we went different routes. Minsky's closed with little fanfare and a new place called Mazzios opened up. It closed soon afterward and I have no idea what is there now. Every once in a while I think about going to Kansas City to eat at a Minsky's, perhaps I will get a group together someday for a road trip.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Memories of the Original Bobby Buford's
I wonder how many people remember Bobby Buford's, a little restaurant/bar that was located at the intersection of I-70 and Stadium. When I first went to Buford's in the early 1980's it was surrounded by pasture and had a peaceful ambiance like a small country restaurant. I have very few memories of what I ordered, what the food was like and how the place looked inside but I do remember the building boom that went on around it. The Columbia Mall and several motel chains almost surrounded Buford's and destroyed that restaurant's peaceful setting. I remember looking at the restaurant as I drove south on Stadium from the Interstate, noticing how odd it looked stuck in the middle of all that development. It was closed by then and I cannot remember what, if anything took its place.
My favorite memory of Bobby Buford's happened the last time I went there to attend a friend's surprise birthday party in one of its private rooms. The food and drink was grand and everyone was having a great time. His son who may of been four or five entertained us with his singing ability as he belted out theme songs from old movies and television series. Randy, his father, was a movie buff like the rest of us and taught his son well. Well enough that the bartender heard the singing and asked the parents if their kid could go the the bar and sing for the customers. I believe the son's name was Matt or Matthew but he went with the bartender and a few seconds later we hear the first words of "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier." We all laughed and I could see the pride on the father's face as his son did him proud. A toast to Bobby Buford's and thanks for the few, but great memories you gave me.
My favorite memory of Bobby Buford's happened the last time I went there to attend a friend's surprise birthday party in one of its private rooms. The food and drink was grand and everyone was having a great time. His son who may of been four or five entertained us with his singing ability as he belted out theme songs from old movies and television series. Randy, his father, was a movie buff like the rest of us and taught his son well. Well enough that the bartender heard the singing and asked the parents if their kid could go the the bar and sing for the customers. I believe the son's name was Matt or Matthew but he went with the bartender and a few seconds later we hear the first words of "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier." We all laughed and I could see the pride on the father's face as his son did him proud. A toast to Bobby Buford's and thanks for the few, but great memories you gave me.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Memories of Columbia's Past Part 2
In the last few weeks I have had conversations with people concerning past businesses in Columbia and how our memories of those places bring on a warm feeling of nostalgia. Although I write primarily about past restaurants, Mr. Ed, who helped inspire my blogging adventure, wants me to write about the old Biscayne Mall and list the various businesses that were located there. Other people want to read about past attractions of central Missouri like Lee Mace's Ozark Opry, Max Allen's Zoo and the Indian Burial Cave but that would be stretching my budgeted time and limited knowledge. I believe all this interest in past attractions and businesses shows there is something lacking in our present lives, maybe just a little bit of something that shows we are tired of all the stores and malls that look the same, sell the same stuff and are staffed by the same, uncaring workers. Maybe we are tired of being "consumers" and want more than just buying stuff. And maybe we want an experience to go with the purchasing that we can remember later on. You tell me.
I find the present collection of restaurants and businesses in Columbia extremely boring because most of them are tied to a chain or corporation located out of state. My mind is bombarded by their television and radio ads which say "You must buy this!" or to go there "Before it is too late!" Don't get me wrong, we still have a few locally owned restaurants and stores that add color and spice but it seems harder for an independent business to get started and stay open for very long. That is why I am dwelling in the past and trying to remember the things that were interesting about this local area. At this time I would like to invite comments from my readers and suggestions of what they would like to read about. In most cases I can only give vague descriptions of past memories but maybe that would spark a memory in you. Help me out if you will. Until next time.
I find the present collection of restaurants and businesses in Columbia extremely boring because most of them are tied to a chain or corporation located out of state. My mind is bombarded by their television and radio ads which say "You must buy this!" or to go there "Before it is too late!" Don't get me wrong, we still have a few locally owned restaurants and stores that add color and spice but it seems harder for an independent business to get started and stay open for very long. That is why I am dwelling in the past and trying to remember the things that were interesting about this local area. At this time I would like to invite comments from my readers and suggestions of what they would like to read about. In most cases I can only give vague descriptions of past memories but maybe that would spark a memory in you. Help me out if you will. Until next time.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Memories of Daniel's
One of my fondest memories belong to a coworker who took a chance and made it big, in a small way. My friend, Dave M., along with a partner opened up a family restaurant called Daniel's. Located on Paris Rd. in an old building that used to be a pizza place, Dave's restaurant took off because he offered a giant buffet for a good price. The quality of food was questionable and ranged from bad to very good but who cared if they could eat a wheelbarrow full for a small price.
Dave was proud of his place and always came out to greet us. Once he took me on a tour of the kitchen because he wanted to show me his monster. In the back was the largest meat slicer I had ever seen, a stainless steel giant with all sorts of moving parts and obscene looking pieces. This thing looked weird like it was out of a horror movie, I'm thinking Clive Barker or Stephen King. Dave was proud of it and showed me how it worked. After several switches were turned on the thing came to life shaking the table and the area around it. I thought to myself, it really does slice meat but I still wanted to run away before it caught me.
The restaurant was opened for only several months when it closed unexpectedly. Dave came by our work one day to explain that someone had driven by, noticed their sign and wanted to buy the design. Dave, being a young Christian lad, used the story of Daniel in the lions den for his logo. The sign consisted of the name with a male lion laying prone on top facing left while the tail went right around and seem to underline Daniel's. Dave and his partner sold the name and design then closed the restaurant. There may have been other reasons for the closure but my memory is foggy on details. Dave and his family moved back east where he worked as a Sous Chef in some large grocery chain. After a while we lost touch with him. He is still remembered for another thing, to him every day was Christmas and he could break into a whistle or sing carols at any time. He is missed by all his friends in Columbia.
Dave was proud of his place and always came out to greet us. Once he took me on a tour of the kitchen because he wanted to show me his monster. In the back was the largest meat slicer I had ever seen, a stainless steel giant with all sorts of moving parts and obscene looking pieces. This thing looked weird like it was out of a horror movie, I'm thinking Clive Barker or Stephen King. Dave was proud of it and showed me how it worked. After several switches were turned on the thing came to life shaking the table and the area around it. I thought to myself, it really does slice meat but I still wanted to run away before it caught me.
The restaurant was opened for only several months when it closed unexpectedly. Dave came by our work one day to explain that someone had driven by, noticed their sign and wanted to buy the design. Dave, being a young Christian lad, used the story of Daniel in the lions den for his logo. The sign consisted of the name with a male lion laying prone on top facing left while the tail went right around and seem to underline Daniel's. Dave and his partner sold the name and design then closed the restaurant. There may have been other reasons for the closure but my memory is foggy on details. Dave and his family moved back east where he worked as a Sous Chef in some large grocery chain. After a while we lost touch with him. He is still remembered for another thing, to him every day was Christmas and he could break into a whistle or sing carols at any time. He is missed by all his friends in Columbia.
Memories of Orient Express
In the fall of 1979 I quit my management job at Kentucky Fried Chicken and took a chance at a new life in Columbia, Missouri. After inspecting a dozen or so trashy, overpriced apartments near the MU campus I looked to west Columbia for a place to live. I ended up renting at Gatehouse Apartments on Broadway near Stadium which was far from campus but close to businesses I needed. This apartment complex was near the Biscayne Mall, a Kroger's grocery store and several restaurants, all within walking distance. My most favorite memory of the Gatehouse experience was a little restaurant just a few minutes away which still to this day excites my appetite.
The Orient Express was hidden by a gas station on the east side and and an old steak house on the west and it was behind another apartment complex north of the Crossroads shopping mall on Ash St. I believe I remember a frozen custard shop attached to the north end of the building but I am not sure. I discovered the restaurant while on a walk exploring my new surroundings and decided to give it a try. The seating area was small but very clean and the menu seemed to be more Japanese and Korean then Chinese. Their specialty was a dish called "Obi", which consisted of thin slices of beef cooked in an extremely flavorful black sauce served on top of rice. I believe I watched them cook the beef on a grill but that memory is vague. The flavor was unlike anything I have tasted in my life and even to this day, almost thirty years later, I have faint remembrances of that taste in the back of my mind. They also served a flavorful tossed salad that had pieces of mandarin oranges and I believe thin slivers of almonds mixed with a light dressing of what might have been sesame oil and a rice wine vinegar. It was very cool and cleansing to the palate and went with the Obi very well. On some days I celebrated with a cold bottle of Japanese Kirin beer but that was rare because money was tight. Going to the Orient Express was an expensive treat which happened only so often.
In less then a year I had to move because the management of Gatehouse wanted to raise my rent but since I had a lease they said I could leave early. I moved to central Columbia and only made it out to the Orient Express occasionally until one day the door of the restaurant was locked. It had closed and I felt like I had lost an old friend. It was many years later when I was looking for another apartment when I found out why the Orient Express closed. The elderly Jewish gentleman showing me the apartment owned properties all over Columbia and he shared some of his locations with me. When he said he owned some properties near Gatehouse I asked him if he remembered the Orient Express. He said he owned the building and that the owners were bought out by a company with a stipulation that they were never to reveal the recipe for their Obi dish. What a revelation, once again big business interferes with my taste buds. I have searched for some sign of an Orient Express and there are many listed on the Internet but nothing seems to fit with the Obi dish. It is one of the few old restaurants that I know other people say they miss, and all of them remember the Obi. I sometimes curse big business but I hope they gave the owners of the Orient Express a good sum of money because they deserved it. Some people have to go to India, use drugs or meditate to reach Nirvana. I reached that experience here in Columbia every time I ate a plate of Obi with a tossed salad and a cold bottle of Kirin beer.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Memories of Famous Freddie's
Downtown on the southwest corner of Hitt and Locust was a neat little hot dog shop called Famous Freddie's. In the mid 1980's an MU student, working with limited funds and hard work, renovated a derelict building to open a shrine for his home city of Chicago. On the walls inside were posters of the Chicago sports teams along with movie stills and city scenes related to his home town. He had all the meat shipped in from Chicago to recreate their famous style of serving hot dogs, which I guess was one part meat and nine parts fixings because he piled it on. It was like a full, balanced meal that fit in your hand.
In the beginning Freddy was the one who took your order and also the person that piled on all the ingredients to make a wonderfully flavored experience. He would explain what made a good Chicago style hot dog in a neat accent that sounded like a gangster from a 1940's movie. It did not take long for Famous Freddie's to become, well, famous as MU students flocked there for the excellent hot dogs and Polish sausages. Freddy did so well that he opened another location in St. Louis and was gone much of the time. Soon afterward the store closed with the rumor that the Famous Freddie's in St. Louis was going so well that he did not have time to run both stores. There was also a rumor that he had sold the rights to a company that planned on franchising it out. What ever the story I just remember how good those hot dogs were and the fact that a college student built a business from the ground up and did well. I don't know if he even graduated from MU or not but I remember good food for a good price close to campus.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Memories of Alexander's Steakhouse
This was a chain restaurant that took over the old Wyatt's Cafeteria location in the Biscayne Mall on the west side. Its claim to fame was the audience participation factor meaning you could pick out your raw steak and cook it over a big broiler they provided in the middle of the restaurant. Nothing like burning the hair off your arm while cooking your steak and leave the restaurant smelling like a charcoal grill. How I miss that!
We would go there in groups, usually celebrating someone leaving the job or moving out of Columbia. It had a great little bar with a popular happy hour but we mainly went there for the steaks. They had this special deal; if you could eat this humongous steak and its fixings with-in an hour you would get it free and your picture was taken to be displayed with other carnivores that busted their gut. My dear friend Garrick took the challenge and we cheered him on as he finished the half a cow on his plate. With his picture proudly displayed on the wall of fame he inspired others to increase their fat content and take several years off their lives.
An interesting side note, the next day at work Garrick could barely move as he complained of joint pain and a general feeling of hopelessness. He swore up and down that he had some sort of beef poisoning and that was causing his general feeling of woe. I don't remember Garrick joining us again after that incident but whenever we went to Alexander's his picture greeted us every time we walked in the place. As months went by and more of our friends left, I just quit going to Alexander's. Biscayne Mall fell into disarray as the stores moved out and soon Alexander's was the only business left except for the Wal-Mart which made itself separate from the mall. I remember reading in the paper that Alexander's was finally closing that location and they were not going to reopen in Columbia and thus another interesting restaurant bit the dust. But I sometimes wonder what happened to Garrick's picture and the dozens of other photos of those who kept our beef producers in business. Hopefully they are in a hall of fame somewhere.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Memories of the Bakery
In the early 1980's Columbia had a bake shop located on downtown Broadway simply called the Bakery. It was a favorite of the college crowd because it was open 24 hours and within walking distance of the bars and entertainment downtown. The Bakery wasn't much to look at and when you glanced through the door behind the display case you would see an old floor covered with flour, old mixers needing a paint job and interesting employees who looked like they just arrived from Woodstock (Remember the rock concert?). The front case was always filled with different selections of pastries but I think the majority of their business consisted of deliveries to stores and churches.
Back then the Missouri Theatre on Ninth St. had midnight movies, mostly "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" which I must of seen a dozen times. When we got out of the movie our first stop on those hot summer mornings (we are talking 2:30am here) would be the Bakery for one of their custard filled pastries and an ice cold Dr. Pepper. We would often sit on the Federal Building's steps watching the few cars go by and an occasional group of people. Since I did not have to be at my job until 2:00PM that afternoon I would sleep off the custard and Dr. Pepper high and dream of scenes from the movie. Sounds scary nowadays. Soon after and I can't remember when there was a fire that destroyed the Bakery and they never reopened. Columbia has never recovered since then, why they don't even show Midnight movies anymore. Too bad for us.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Memories of Taco Tico
When I first moved to Columbia in 1979 I did not have much money and my first job was at Woodhaven Learning Center making 10 cents above minimum wage. It may not of been a high paying job but it was the most rewarding I've ever had. Working with handicapped children and young adults was hard work, especially for someone who had no training in the field. College kids were drawn to Woodhaven for various reasons ie. helping the less fortunate, flexible working hours and days, hanging out with or picking up other students (girls) etc. Since we were not making much money everyone frequented the less expensive restaurants like Taco Tico.
Taco Tico had two locations in Columbia, one on Worley St. near the now defunct Biscayne Mall and the more popular location (for us) on the Business Loop. I believe it may have been where you continue going North on College Avenue and end up in their parking lot. They had the standard fare for a Mexican chain but their tacos were every one's favorite. The tacos were the greasiest things I have every ate and they tasted so good! Taco Tico had a flavor of its own and even with grease dribbling down our chins we consumed them by the dozen. I remember they were cheap but I do not recall the 1979 price. I recently looked up Taco Tico on the Internet and found they are still in business in the bordering states. Why they moved out of Columbia is a mystery but I remember a rumor that they used cat or dog food for the taco filling. It probably help in their sales, especially with college students because we thought that was cool. Every time I drive by the two old locations I remember the good times I had with my college friends at Taco Tico and even feel like a road trip to the nearest location. Maybe some day.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Memories of Goody's Steakburgers
Even though this place closed down a few years ago, I miss their wonderful, mouth watering burgers. They were located on Business Loop 70 in what I think was an old Wendy's location. In that building they shared space with a Greyhound bus stop which I believe was their undoing. Columbia at that time required a separate smoking area and at this Goody's it was near the side of the store where people bought bus tickets. Their ventilation system did not seem to work very well as the smoke floated over to the non smoking area on the west side. On a good day with no smokers, I would sit inside with my kids noticing only a trace of the smell, but it was on those few days that had a lot of smokers that made me stop going to Goody's.
I would bring my kids there about once a week where we each ordered a Goody's steak burger. The beef was lean and cooked just right, seared on a hot grill and placed on a toasted bun full of crisp condiments. A single burger could fill you up but once I bet with my son that he could not eat a triple burger. I watched in amazement as this twelve year old ate a three patty steak burger and survive to eat later on that day! (He did complain of a stomachache though.) As time went on we quit eating inside because of the cigarette smoke and the strange customers who just seemed to sit there and just smoke. Instead I would order at the register for take out and watch how dysfunctional this place had become with terrible service and some odd characters working there. Even with all the factors working against it the burgers still came out
great. I was somewhat sad when I read that they were closing but I understood why I quit going there and I heard there are two other locations located in nearby towns. Maybe some day I will check them out.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Memories of the Cork and Dart Pub / The Sub Shop
My most favorite watering hole ever was the old Cork and Dart Pub which used to be located on Walnut St. It shared a strategic location with several favorite restaurants because it was half way between the MU campus and my apartment on Melbourne St. I put it on my restaurant blog because most times that I went to the Pub I ended up at either Romes Pizza or the old Sub Shop during or afterward. First the Cork and Dart Pub or what regulars called "The Pub".
It was the closest thing I have seen to a real English style pub in Columbia. It had thick wood tables and chairs with a decor that made it look like it came from a neighborhood outside London. The Pub had Columbia's largest selection of foreign beer with excellent bartenders and waitresses who did a great job taking care of the customers. My friends and I would hit the Pub at least once a week, usually on the weekend after work where we would travel the world drinking beer from different countries. It had a "Cheers" like attitude where everyone got along and there was never any trouble. They had good local bands playing on the weekends while during the week you could have a quiet time talking with friends. If you were hungry you could go to Romes Pizza (see an earlier blog) which was just behind the Pub. Romes had a back entrance one could use or you could go just a few feet outside the Cork and Dart to be in the Sub Shop where they would sometimes deliver your sandwich to the table in the Pub. Now the Sub Shop.
The Sub Shop is still open in two locations in Columbia but I feel this old Walnut St. location which was torn down will always be my favorite. The seating area was decorated with murals from an artist's vision of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Inside, the staff was mainly counter culture types with long and/or weird hair styles that made it interesting to order. We always wondered how much hair was getting into our sandwiches but that was part of the Sub Shop's charm. The food was outstanding as they had to have the best sub sandwiches I have ever had. I would always order a whole vegetarian on whole wheat with mozzarella cheese and bacon. By all the gods in Asgard, that sandwich was awesome, especially with a cold beer at the Pub. The Sub Shop also sold a decent pizza for a good price and had excellent salads.
It was a shame when the Pub's original owners sold the place because the new people did not have a clue how to run a bar. I once went there after work with a friend while still wearing my white uniform from work. A man who was sitting at a table with the new owners got up and started asking me questions why I was dressed like that. The people at the owner's table just laughed but I ignored the guy. Once we finished our drinks we left and I never went back. Almost everyone I knew that frequented the Pub quit going. Most of the other Pub regulars started going to a new place called Murry's south of town. The Sub Shop moved to a location near the "J" School on campus and closed their Walnut St. location. Great food, great drinks and great times with friends all in a wonderful atmoshere, those are the memories I have of these two great businesses. What I would give for a sub right now.
It was the closest thing I have seen to a real English style pub in Columbia. It had thick wood tables and chairs with a decor that made it look like it came from a neighborhood outside London. The Pub had Columbia's largest selection of foreign beer with excellent bartenders and waitresses who did a great job taking care of the customers. My friends and I would hit the Pub at least once a week, usually on the weekend after work where we would travel the world drinking beer from different countries. It had a "Cheers" like attitude where everyone got along and there was never any trouble. They had good local bands playing on the weekends while during the week you could have a quiet time talking with friends. If you were hungry you could go to Romes Pizza (see an earlier blog) which was just behind the Pub. Romes had a back entrance one could use or you could go just a few feet outside the Cork and Dart to be in the Sub Shop where they would sometimes deliver your sandwich to the table in the Pub. Now the Sub Shop.
The Sub Shop is still open in two locations in Columbia but I feel this old Walnut St. location which was torn down will always be my favorite. The seating area was decorated with murals from an artist's vision of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Inside, the staff was mainly counter culture types with long and/or weird hair styles that made it interesting to order. We always wondered how much hair was getting into our sandwiches but that was part of the Sub Shop's charm. The food was outstanding as they had to have the best sub sandwiches I have ever had. I would always order a whole vegetarian on whole wheat with mozzarella cheese and bacon. By all the gods in Asgard, that sandwich was awesome, especially with a cold beer at the Pub. The Sub Shop also sold a decent pizza for a good price and had excellent salads.
It was a shame when the Pub's original owners sold the place because the new people did not have a clue how to run a bar. I once went there after work with a friend while still wearing my white uniform from work. A man who was sitting at a table with the new owners got up and started asking me questions why I was dressed like that. The people at the owner's table just laughed but I ignored the guy. Once we finished our drinks we left and I never went back. Almost everyone I knew that frequented the Pub quit going. Most of the other Pub regulars started going to a new place called Murry's south of town. The Sub Shop moved to a location near the "J" School on campus and closed their Walnut St. location. Great food, great drinks and great times with friends all in a wonderful atmoshere, those are the memories I have of these two great businesses. What I would give for a sub right now.
Memories of Yellow Submarine
In the early 80's I lived in the Benton-Stephens community of Columbia along with probably another couple of thousand MU students. This was an area of old houses divided up into multiple apartment units. Landlords could get more bang for their buck because it was within walking distance of the campus. Well anyway, on Ripley St. there was a small building; I don't know what is was originally but it housed a restaurant called Yellow Submarine where you could get a pretty good sub sandwich. It was decorated with scenes from the Beatle's movie of the same name and the restaurant had a run down look with a few seats. I remember the big gas heater that hung from the ceiling, like those you would see in garages and warehouses built years ago with baffles and a fan. Overall the place was handy for a quick meal, the prices were right and it was located right around the corner from where I lived.
One day I was walking home from class when a friend asked me what did I think of the explosion the other night. I had no idea what he was talking about and he informed me that the Yellow Submarine burned down after a loud explosion. Fire trucks kept neighbors up that evening but I had slept right thought the incident. I remember hearing on the news that it may have been a natural gas leak that sparked the explosion and I thought of that old gas heater that hung from the ceiling. It was too bad, a good restaurant only five minutes away was gone. I walked by the burned out building on my way to work one afternoon and thought of the character from the Mork and Mindy show, a white robed guy named Exedor, who would announce "Time for a sandwich!" I would not be getting one from this place anymore.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Memories of Rome Pizzeria
Many great memories from my college days come to mind while thinking about this place. Romes Pizza had a strategic location as it was half way between my old apartment on Melbourne St. and the UMC campus. Located on the North side of Broadway facing the entrance to Hitt St., it was one of my favorite spots to stop when walking home after class. It also had another strategic advantage, it had a rear exit that brought you to the the back parking lot near where the old Cork and Dart Pub was located (more on that business later).
If you looked inside Romes it appeared dark and mysterious but as you opened the door the aromas lured you in. On the right as you entered was the cooking area with its pizza ovens and gyro cooker. A big cylindrical shaped hunk of lamb and beef stood on a counter in its cooker where they would slice off portions of meat for a gyro. Their gyro sauce was the best I ever tasted to this day and the pizzas were wonderful. They were large, greasy and extremely flavorful. Romes also sold various Greek dishes that were just as tasty and salads that were out of this world. It was at this restaurant where I had my first taste of Ouzo, a licorice flavored liquor and Retsina, a liquor tasting like pine tar. Both of them put a little extra step in your walk and needed to be treated with respect.
The owner of Romes was a short older gentleman but I can't remember his name. I believe he opened one of the first Greek owned restaurants in mid-Missouri and may of helped bring over the other people or family who started similar places. He ran the place with his wife and son and I remember his voice because he would talk loudly to them in Greek, sometimes yelling with animated gestures. During those times I would close my eyes while tasting the food and think I was in Greece. I guess he retired because he sold the store and it became an Indian restaurant. One day I met him at the Wal-Mart on Conley; he was working as a greeter so I decided to thank him for all the good food over the years. He didn't seem to remember me but was nice nevertheless and went on to his duties. Then, after so many years and even while typing this post, I can still taste the gyros, pizzas, Greek salads and the endless gallons of Dr. Pepper this fine restaurant served me and boy, do I miss them.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Memories of Columbia's Past
For months while at work, a popular topic of discussion was of old restaurants and businesses that have disappeared from Columbia and the memories we have of those unique and interesting places. I say unique because once these businesses were gone there was little or nothing to replace them, at least in my opinion.
Columbia has been a growing city, thus it has drawn in the various chain restaurants and stores giving it the appearance of any other mid-western community it's size. It still has some features that make it unique like Columbia College, the UMC campus, Stephens College and the likes but it's the little things that I feel the community is missing. Those old restaurants and businesses I will be listing spark my memories, both good and bad, and I believe they added color and spice to our little area of the world. I am sad that I'm unable to take my children to these places but they will develop their own memories in time and a possible good side, they are saved from listening to mine.
Before I start I want to thank some coworkers who inspired me to start this list. To Mr. Ed who gave me the article's title and is constantly challenging my mental capacity with questions about new businesses opening up around Columbia. And of course Dietary Dave aka "Mr. Columbia" for his superior memory of everything Columbia and his sense of humor. I will limit the list to only places I have visited and have memories of and I will try to include addresses, personalities and anything else that comes up. In the future I hope to add photos, graphics and resources that may help all of us. Everyone reading these posts are welcome to start their own site to increase the information and expand the subject matter. And please forgive my sophomoric attempt at writing until I get the rust out of my brain and fingers. Well here goes:
Heritage House Restaurant
Off Business Loop 70 and on the southwest outer I-70 road was a buffet of buffets. Heritage House had a great buffet of good to substandard food which helped feed me during my college days. I remember salty country ham, soggy fried frog legs, barely cooked fried chicken and interesting vegetables of an unknown nature. My friends and I loved eating there because we could eat a huge amount of food for a great price. I once remember playing with a cockroach on our table while eating and my friends were jealous because they did not have one for themselves. (I let the cockroach run off to finish it's short life and washed my hands.) Running the show was an interesting gentleman named Sam Collier who would walk around looking at the food, sometimes check you out at the register and made tv commercials for his place. I remember him well because I had Food Handler's Class with him twice and he seemed to know everyone. The instructor would pick on him and he brought some humor to a boring class. Some time after the restaurant closed they started tearing the building down and we wondered about all the roaches and where they would go. We also remembered huge amounts of food, good conversations and a good time for all.
Columbia has been a growing city, thus it has drawn in the various chain restaurants and stores giving it the appearance of any other mid-western community it's size. It still has some features that make it unique like Columbia College, the UMC campus, Stephens College and the likes but it's the little things that I feel the community is missing. Those old restaurants and businesses I will be listing spark my memories, both good and bad, and I believe they added color and spice to our little area of the world. I am sad that I'm unable to take my children to these places but they will develop their own memories in time and a possible good side, they are saved from listening to mine.
Before I start I want to thank some coworkers who inspired me to start this list. To Mr. Ed who gave me the article's title and is constantly challenging my mental capacity with questions about new businesses opening up around Columbia. And of course Dietary Dave aka "Mr. Columbia" for his superior memory of everything Columbia and his sense of humor. I will limit the list to only places I have visited and have memories of and I will try to include addresses, personalities and anything else that comes up. In the future I hope to add photos, graphics and resources that may help all of us. Everyone reading these posts are welcome to start their own site to increase the information and expand the subject matter. And please forgive my sophomoric attempt at writing until I get the rust out of my brain and fingers. Well here goes:
Heritage House Restaurant
Off Business Loop 70 and on the southwest outer I-70 road was a buffet of buffets. Heritage House had a great buffet of good to substandard food which helped feed me during my college days. I remember salty country ham, soggy fried frog legs, barely cooked fried chicken and interesting vegetables of an unknown nature. My friends and I loved eating there because we could eat a huge amount of food for a great price. I once remember playing with a cockroach on our table while eating and my friends were jealous because they did not have one for themselves. (I let the cockroach run off to finish it's short life and washed my hands.) Running the show was an interesting gentleman named Sam Collier who would walk around looking at the food, sometimes check you out at the register and made tv commercials for his place. I remember him well because I had Food Handler's Class with him twice and he seemed to know everyone. The instructor would pick on him and he brought some humor to a boring class. Some time after the restaurant closed they started tearing the building down and we wondered about all the roaches and where they would go. We also remembered huge amounts of food, good conversations and a good time for all.
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