| Eateries |
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| OHIO |
| Kewpee Hamburgers Lima, OH |
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| The Kewpee hamburger chain was founded in Flint, MI in 1923 as the Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs. There are only four Kewpees left: three in Lima, OH and one in Lansing, MI. I believe this is the only one left with the original building. It was built in the 1930s and seats about 50 customers. In addition to the Kewpee doll outside, there are two others inside. Before they enlarged their parking lot, it featured a car turntable. Rather than backing out of the lot, a car would pull onto the turntable and be manually turned around. An example of this is at Fidelity Cleaners in Philadelphia, PA. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| The Court (now Sal's Philly Steaks) Lima, OH |
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| This building was constructed in 1940. The original tenant, the Tip Top restaurant, operated here until the 1980s. Then, The Court restaurant took over the space until it closed around 2000. In 2007, the building and sign were refurbished for Sal's Philly Steaks. |
| Maid-Rite Drive-in Greenville, OH |
The Spot to Eat Sidney, OH |
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The Maid-Rite Drive-in is as famous for its "loose meat sandwiches" as it is for its "wall of gum". I believe this restaurant opened in the 1930s. While there is a Maid-Rite chain, founded in 1926 with several locations in Ohio, I don't believe this restaurant was ever part of it. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Spot to Eat opened in 1907. In 1917, the restaurant expanded with other "Spot to Eat" locations in Athens, Urbana, Lima and Bellefontaine, OH. This is the only location left. The restaurant was rebuilt after a fire in 1941. The neon sign is from the 1950s or so. It is still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Carl's Townhouse Chillicothe, OH |
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| Carl's Townhouse opened in 1940 as "NCL" (Nice Clean Lunch). It was renamed in 2000 when the building was moved to a new location in town. According to one source, the building was first used at the 1939 World's Fair as a model gas station. |
| Johnson's Drive-In [moved] Conneaut, OH |
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| Johnson's Drive-In featured a great "Time to Eat" clock, tile roof, great awnings and a U-shaped counter inside. It had been vacant for many years. The building was constructed in the 1920s as a prefabricated metal City Services gas station. In 2006, there were plans to disassemble and move it to Williamsfield, OH where it would be restored and displayed with vintage pumps. Does anyone know if this happened? For more, see this website. |
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Elsewhere in this section:
Bob's Big Boy (Cambridge) Krema Nut Company (Columbus) Peanut Shoppe (Columbus) Wympee Drive In (Dayton) former Golden Point (Warren) Frisch's Big Boy (various cities) Golden Point (various cities) White Castle & White Tower (various cities) |
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More OH Eateries:
Eddie's Grill (Geneva-on-the-Lake) |
| OH Drive-ins | OH Ice Cream |
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