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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.