Amber Oaks Review – Sept. 21, 1973

Back in the 60s and 70s, the Journal used to have a great advertising feature that spotlighted local restaurants. It was called the "Golden Crescent Guide to Dining and Dancing.”

It was a clever gimmick. The Guide always featured a positive review of a local restaurant, and included a photo of either the interior or exterior. A current advertisement of the business being reviewed usually appeared below the review.

Anyway, above is the September 21, 1973 edition of the Guide, promoting Sheffield Lake’s well-remembered Amber Oaks (a favorite topic on this blog).

I always liked that sign. Besides the leaf and acorn graphics, the sign – with its neon arrow and various components – seemed to convey that there was a lot going on inside that you didn’t want to miss, especially in the Cocktail Lounge.

It’s also interesting seeing the word ‘Chops’ on a restaurant sign or in an ad. It’s a very old-timey thing that you don’t run into very often, except in old Damon Runyon stories. According to this Wiki entry, the most common meat chops are pork and lamb.

Another one of these Golden Crescent Guides back in 1971 had a photograph of the outside of the restaurant (below).

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I’m not sure what ever happened with the revival of Amber Oaks. It’s been at least two years since the building was fixed up very nicely.

A recent view of the current sign

Restaurant Roll Call – 1969

Reading that February 1970 article about Lorain’s new “quick service” dining scene that I posted last week made me curious about the other restaurants in the neighboring cities during that time period. So I went back and reviewed the Restaurants listings in the November 1969 Lorain Telephone Company directory and compiled a rough list.

All I can say is that the surrounding areas had an incredible amount of choices – of both Mom and Pop places as well as national chains – when it came to eating out back then.

Over in Vermilion, the A&W Root Beer stand on Liberty Avenue was still open, as well as Casey’s Drive In. Other culinary choices included the Holiday Inn Steakhouse, Ann’s Lunch, Dockside Bar-B-Q, Elberta Inn, the Hanna House, Lake Erie Drive In, L’Auberge Du Port Restaurant Francais, Leidheiser’s German Restaurant, McGarvey’s Boat Drive-In, The Nest, Old Prague Restaurant, Dairy Queen, DuPerow Restaurant and The Pit.

Further west out in Huron, there was the Philbo House at the junction of Routes 61 and 6 & 2, and the Twine House on North Main.

Sheffield Lake had a nice selection of places where one could get something to eat. There was Amber Oaks, Bill & Don’s Sheffield Inn, Dutch Treat, Miller’s Dairy Isle Snack Shoppe, Pizza Hut, and of course, Vian’s Barbecue & Restaurant.

Nearby in Avon Lake, you could dine at Aqua Marine - Ramada Inn (another topic that will finally debut on this blog this year), Dairy Queen, the Lovin Oven, Paul & Evelyn’s Dinette, the Saddle Inn Restaurant & Motel, Sandy Lee’s Restaurant, and the Tropicana Lounge & Restaurant. And in Avon, there was Miller’s Country Place.

Over in Amherst, some of the restaurants included the Chatterbox Restaurant, Mischka’s Restaurant, Vicki’s Restaurant, Dewey Road Inn and Yeager’s Acres. And in Birmingham, there was K’s Restaurant on Route 113, which advertised home cooked meals and homemade pies.

Out in North Ridgeville, there was Eddy’s Chalet West. In Elyria, you could dine at Carey’s Villa on Lake Avenue, the Holiday Inn near Midway Mall on Lorain Boulevard, King’s Table, Mr. Larry’s Beef ’N Tails, the Porter House, and the Weathervane Club, which was located on Butternut Ridge.

During the next few days, I’ll feature some local restaurants of yesteryear in their own posts.

Signs of Change in Sheffield Lake

It looks like change is coming to Sheffield Lake, at least when it comes to some of the city's longtime businesses and commercial strips.

As shown above, the city's lakefront high-rise luxury apartments – formerly Erie Shore Landing – are now The Perch on Lake. Its website lists its newly renovated apartments and Clubhouse as just a few of the amenities. (I still like the original name – Lakeside 10 – best, though. It has that Southern California beachcomber feel to it.)

Over at Duff Corners at the intersection of East Lake and Abbe Roads, a sign is up for Dee's Lakeside Billiards. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any online mention of it yet. But it would be nice to have something in there at such a high profile intersection, and I hope it works out.

Longtime residents remember the various gas stations that were there, as well as Donutville and Fraam’s Restaurant. I’m still bummed that Sun Hardware is closed next door, as the staff were always friendly and helpful.

Lastly – although it seems to be taking a while – it looks like Amber Oaks (a favorite topic on this blog here and here) is preparing for an eventual reopening.

A message on the sign at the end of last summer (at right) read, “SEE YOU SOON,” as well as “NEW MENU." Work has been going on both on the inside and outside of the restaurant, and the owners have been sprucing it up nicely.

There has also been some chatter about Amber Oaks on the "You know you're from Sheffield or Sheffield Lake if…" Facebook page, mostly speculation about the hours of the restaurant once it reopens.

Here’s hoping that these and all new businesses in Sheffield Lake enjoy much community support, as well as success.

Amber Oaks Closes

According to some comments posted on the "You know you're from Sheffield or Sheffield Lake if..." Facebook page, Amber Oaks quietly closed for good at the end of last weekend.

I saw the sign on Monday during my commute and didn't realize that it was the owners' way of saying goodbye to the community.

A 1971 view of the original building

It's very sad. The restaurant had been part of Sheffield Lake since it opened in 1963. (I wrote about its Grand Opening here and here.)

Although I hadn't eaten there in a while, for many years it was our preferred choice for family celebrations and New Year's Eve dinner.

The restaurant obviously still had many fans, judging by the many cars in the parking lot.

Here's wishing the owners a Happy Retirement, along with my thanks for providing a backdrop for so many of our family get-togethers.

More Amber Oaks Fun

Shortly after the gala Grand Opening of Amber Oaks, the ad above ran in the Lorain Journal on May 23, 1963. As you can see, the opening had been a big success. (Hey look at that--the little guy from the auto ads even made a cameo appearance in the ad!)

Here's another Amber Oaks newspaper ad from a few years later. This one (below) is from September 12, 1968.

Here's a look at the restaurant as it used to look in the early days. This shot (below) is from a June 1971 Golden Crescent Guide to Dining and Dancing column by Dennis Traster. The feature – which was a unique form of advertising – used to appear in the Journal and spotlighted a different restaurant each time.

And lastly, here's the restaurant as it looks today.

Amber Oaks Grand Opening Ad - May 16, 1963

Here's the full-page ad announcing the May 17, 1963 Grand Opening of Sheffield Lake's venerable Amber Oaks restaurant. The ad ran in The Journal on Thursday, May 16 1963 – exactly 50 years ago today (and on a Thursday too).

I'm glad that these big grand opening ads were the trend back then. They sure make it easy for amateur historians to nail down dates, and find out the names of builders and suppliers.

I love the Cinerama-style typography for the Amber Oaks name.

Anyway, I'm very happy that the restaurant is still around. Although I haven't been there lately, for many years it was the special occasion place for the spouse and me (I really loved the seafood platter).

Here's hoping Amber Oaks is around for another 50 years!

Tomorrow: More Amber Oaks fun