The Charcoal Pit

I was poking around the cardcow.com vintage postcard website when I saw the above image of the Charcoal Pit restaurant at 31st and Pearl out in South Lorain. It really intrigued me, as I had never heard of it.

After spending a little time in the Lorain Public Library, I discovered that the Charcoal Pit first appeared in the city directory in 1954, with Alex Horvath as the owner/operator.

Its phone book ads make it look like a terrific place. Look at that menu – roast duck & lobsters? Wow!

1955 Lorain Phone Book advertisement

Here's another ad from a few years later. The menu kept getting better. At this point they even had chicken paprikas.

1959 Lorain Phone Book advertisement

It looks like around 1968 the restaurant disappeared from the city directory. By 1970, a church apparently took over at that address.

Today, the Charcoal Pit's building is gone from the 3059 Pearl Avenue location. However, landscaping and the wonderful, well-known South Lorain mural keep the scene from becoming just another vacant lot.

The Charcoal Pit's former location today

If you compare the 'now' photo above with the vintage postcard, you can just make out a little bit of the distinctive roof of the house on the right.

If anyone remembers the Charcoal Pit, please be sure to leave a comment!