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!
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| 1955 Lorain Phone Book advertisement |
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| 1959 Lorain Phone Book advertisement |
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.
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| 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!
I remember it mainly from my mother telling about having dinner there on Friday nights out. I never ate there, but I do remember the wondferful aromas as one came past the Charcoal Pit.
ReplyDeleteI remember it too. It was pink for one thing as I recall. Never inside but remember
ReplyDeletepicking up to go order.
All I can remember is that the yellow brick building was Kohlmyers Hardware. Made many trips there to get hardware but didn't start driving Pearl St until 1969
ReplyDeleteI recall a very large fire in that block about 1968. It was in the winter time and photos of the aftermath that appeared in the Lorain Journal showed huge icicles hanging from all of the electrical poles. Could the Charcoal Pit have been the victim of this fire?
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was the owner. No fire. My son actually has one of the long redwood tables from the restaurant in his house today still.
DeleteCharcoal Pit was on the corner of 31st street. We used to walk past it everyday to go to Lowell school. The Building which Sacred Heart Chapel used as a church for a while until the new one was build on Pearl was Kohlmyer's hardware. The big fire in 1968 was between 30th and 29th street. I grew up down the street on 30th street.
ReplyDeleteI remember my mom would drive from Elyria to pick up Chargrilled Chicken. She would wait i the car while I went i and picked up the order.It was delicious!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting all these memories!
My parents were instrumental in getting it closed down for refusing to serve Black people back in the early sixtys
ReplyDeleteThat had nothing to do with its closing at all...Moved onward and upward to greater business opportunity.
DeleteThat IS NOT why it closed down. Owner moved on to build and develop properties.
DeleteThanks for posting your comment, Sandra. I had no idea there was any racial controversy associated with the restaurant (especially in view of regular contributor Alan Hopewell's reminisce about his mother eating there).
ReplyDeleteAccording to a small item in the Toledo Blade of June 16, 1960, "Negroes have ended their three-month picketing at the Charcoal Pit Restaurant in south Lorain. Leaders of the movement said the end of the demonstration followed withdrawal of support by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The owner of the restaurant, Alexander Horvath, was found innocent last week by a municipal court jury on a charge of refusing to serve Negroes at his restaurant."
Thank you for posting this. My grandfather was Alex Horvath and his name had been tarnished long enough...I have heard nothing but great things from the people of Lorain and surrounding cities.
DeleteMy grandfather owned this restaurant back in the 60's and thanks Dan Brady for pointing out he was found innocent! Glad to see and hear of the good comments that came from his place.
ReplyDeleteFeel like good
ReplyDeleteMY dad and All Horvath were best friends. The chicken soup was heavenly. So was the chicken paprikash. The owner had a 2000 + acre farm off Abbe Road and that's where my brother learned to drive a tractor.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Alex was from grandfather. He went on to sell the property eventually and they built houses there. Good times wandering around the property😊
DeleteI looked up this place because my dad was telling me about how he was not allowed inside, he had to go around back to get fries.
ReplyDeleteMy Father had a part time business repairing cash registers. The Charcoal Pit was one of his customers. He became friends with the owner. I can remember going there in the early 60's with my parents (I was around 5 or 6 years old). As someone already posted, the food was exceptional - and I can remember the chicken soup being fantastic. What stands out in my mind is that the floor was always covered with saw dust - or I should say it was more like wood chips. I believe I was told that it was easier to sweep up and absorbed spills when they happened. Great memories.
ReplyDelete