Ponderosa Steak House Opens – August 1971

For those of us that grew up on the West Side of Lorain in the 1960s and 70s, it’s hard to drive by Rag’s Wine and Beverage at 4743 Oberlin Avenue and not feel a little wistful.

That’s because the building that now houses the popular liquor store was once the scene of many a good meal and family gathering, back when it was the Ponderosa Steak House.

The photograph above, showing Manager Al Cooney in front of the recently opened Ponderosa Steak House appeared in the Lorain Journal back on August 7, 1971.

Ponderosa has an interesting history. 

Dan Blocker, who played Hoss Cartwright on TV’s Bonanza, started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain in 1963. The Ponderosa Steak House restaurants were launched around 1968 as a competitor. The two separate companies, both with their roots in the popular TV Western, battled it out until they were finally united under one corporate brand in 1997. (Here’s the link to the corporate website.)

Lorain’s Ponderosa Steak House on Oberlin Avenue was a topic on this blog back in 2011. At that time, the building was home to Eastern Buffet.

Anyway, it's pleasant to remember all of the good meals and good times at the Ponderosa. 

Remember watching your steak being grilled to order? The smoke and flames, not to mention the aroma, added an element of excitement. The casual cafeteria style dining was no-nonsense and efficient. The Western theme made it fun for kids, and the ice cream sundae bar waiting for you at dessert brought the dinner to a great finish.

Today you have to drive all the way to Elyria to go to a steak house. But it’s nice to remember when one was less than five minutes from our house.

The building today, home to Rag’s Wine and Beverage