Pete & Millie's Revisited

Pete & Millie's was a popular restaurant located on the southeast corner of West 21st Street and Leavitt Road (where the Family Dollar store is today). It was owned and operated by Peter and Mildred Flontek. As I noted back on this post, it first showed up in the city directory in the 1949 edition. But I found an ad from a year earlier that appeared in the Lorain Journal on Sept. 3, 1948 (below). Like many restaurants at that time, it started out as a seasonal drive-in, with curb service only.

However November 10, 1951, this large ad announcing the opening of their new dining room, which enabled them to be open all year round.

It was quite an ambitious menu, with its 'sensational new crab burger,' along with old favorites like Chicken in a Basket. Note that Restemeier's Potato Chips was the brand sold there.

Courtesy Alan Richer

The year 1952 was a big one, with regular ads running in the Journal. My original post featured ads from late January and early February. These two ads (below) also ran in February, keeping the momentum generated by the new dining room going.

Feb. 12, 1952

Feb. 26, 1952

And then, about two years later, it was all over, with Pete & Millie selling out to the Standard Oil Company. I guess the location was just too desirable for Standard Oil to resist. Vic's Sohio Service Station would take over the location. Below is the Grand Opening ad that ran in the Journal on August 20, 1954.