Evans' Grille

Okay, I guess I'm making a pretty big shift in blog topics, from the opulence and majesty of the Castle-On-The-Lake on US Route 6 to Evans' Grille at 126 E. 28th Street. Why? Well, read on!

When I first found this Grand Opening newspaper ad (above) from April 9, 1948 on microfilm, I got a little sentimental. You see, years ago my Dad told me that Evans' Grille was his grandfather's favorite place to hang out. His grandfather lived a few blocks away on W. 28th Street on the other side of Broadway, and he would just walk down there, which is impressive considering he was in his late 70's and then 80's.

Dad also told me one of his grandfather's favorite routines was to order a beer at the bar, then after it was put in front of him, head for the restroom. Then upon returning, he'd point to the beer (which by now had a lot less foam) and express mock indignation, exclaiming, "Who's been drinking my beer?" Then the bartender would good-naturedly fill it up the rest of the way again.

Anyway, Grandpa was sitting on a barstool in Evans' Grille on the afternoon that he had the stroke that killed him a few hours later. I guess that's a pretty good way to go – doing what you like, in one of your favorite places.

That's why this ad struck a chord with me.

I'm intrigued by the photo of the Eddie King Trio. That's a name that seems to pop up with regularity on the local entertainment pages of old Journals, along with the Alex Visci Quartet. (Hopefully someone with knowledge of the King Trio will Google the name, find their way here to this blog and post a comment!)

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The building that housed Evans' Grille first showed up in the Lorain City Directory in 1924 as J. Urbanski & Sons, which was a grocery store with both 124 & 126 E. 28th Street as its location. Around 1929, an A&P occupied the 124 address, while the Urbanski's ran their meat market from the 126 side.

By the 1940's, the A&P was out and John Urbanski was running a restaurant and bar that occupied both addresses. Around 1947, the restaurant was listed as being run by a Mrs. Mary Evans, a widow. And according to the Grand Opening ad, it became Evans' Grille in 1948.

Here's a June 1956 newspaper ad. My Mom confirms that they did have pretty good fish dinners there.

Evans' Grille lasted until around 1971, when it became the Carousel Lounge. I'm not sure if it is still in business.

The neighborhood has gone through a lot of change in the past decades. The building is still there, and I snapped this shot of it last Saturday. Actually for a building from the early 1920's, it still looks like it's in good shape, although it has traded the homey look of its Evans' Grille days (flower boxes and shutters) for more of a fortress feel.

Places like Evans' Grille were really the heart of a neighborhood.

The Castle On-The-Lake Part 3

Here's a vintage postcard of The Castle On-The-Lake, followed by how it looks today as El Arriero Mexican Restaurant.

There's been a few structural modifications (I kind of miss that suit of armor in the window) but otherwise the building still looks great, and the signage was tastefully applied.

For a comparison, here's what it looked like back when it was the Castle Feast.

I had forgotten those trees, and didn't even miss them in the newest photo. So I guess the building has come full circle.

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UPDATE – April 2024

Since this post, I've posted an ad for the 1941 Grand Opening of the Castle-on-the-Lake as a 'dinner-dance club here. There's also a 1952 'Sixth Anniversary' ad here. Click on the 'Castle-on-the-Lake' label on this post (or on the list of labels at right)  to bring up all of the Castle posts over the years.

And here's a recent photo.

The Castle On-The-Lake Part 2

Here's another phone book ad for the Castle On-The-Lake, this time from 1953.

I'm kind of surprised that the place is referred to as a 'supper club' in the ad. (If you've never heard that expression before, then click here. But be sure to come back!)

I mentioned that I had my wedding rehearsal dinner at the Castle, back in 1989. It wasn't very long after that (within a year or so) that the place closed. (I guess it's a good thing I got married when I did.)

But that wasn't the end of the Castle's story. It was just the end of the Castle's carefully maintained image. From then on, when you drove by the place, you were never sure what you were going to see.

Around 1991, the placed reopened as Tequila Charlie's. Two years later it was (believe it or not) the Sugar Castle Amish Buffet. Then it was the Castle Feast.

Around 2000, it was closed again.

Shortly after it closed, it reopened as Castillo Grande. Finally, it seemed like a formula for success. And it was, until it closed in March of 2009. Then it became El Arriero.

I wish the owner of El Arriero a lot of luck in this latest venture. While I hate to see 'old Lorain' fading away, I'm glad that the building is still being used as a restaurant, and is still creating good times and memories.

Next: Then and Now Photos

The Castle On-The-Lake Part 1

A few doors down to the east of Chris' Restaurant is the location of one of the all-time classic Lorain restaurants. Right now the majestic building houses El Arriero Mexican Restaurant, but you and I remember when it was The Castle On-The-Lake.

The Castle On-The-Lake (or The Castle if you prefer) first appeared in the City Directory in 1942. According to the Images of America Lorain book, it was built in 1925 as a private residence. I have tried to do some research on the original owner, but unfortunately since Leavitt Road was the western city limits for many years, the early city directories didn't include any address listings west of it.

Shown above is an ad from 1961.

The Castle is one of those Lorain icons that everyone remembers and has some special memory associated with it. For me, it was the choice for dining on the night of my senior prom, as well as my wedding rehearsal dinner.

Be sure to post a comment about your special Castle memory!

Remember the Howard Johnson's on Route 6?

I recently enjoyed a great lunch at the popular Chris' Restaurant at 2812 West Erie Avenue in Lorain. I've driven by this place for years without stopping, and just had to find out why it was always packed. My lunch (a lake perch sandwich) was great, and the service was excellent too, but I also enjoyed myself for another reason. It was a chance to check out the building! Old-timers like me still remember when it was a Howard Johnson's.

Here's an article that appeared in the Lorain Journal on March 29, 1955 announcing the construction. (Click on it for a closer look.)

The clipping makes mention of the fact that the new Howard Johnson's was being built on the site of the old Coliseum (which I wrote about way back here.)

I think it is fascinating to think about U.S. Route 6 back then being a coast-to-coast highway, and its western approach to Lorain being dotted with so many motels. It gives the area a sort of roadside charm, and certainly a Howard Johnson's cemented that 'national highway' feeling.

My family stopped there for ice cream at least a few times on special occasions. Of course, back then there were a lot of places competing for the family buck, including Brady's Restaurant (which I've blogged about so many times, I won't even bother giving you a link) and the Lorain Creamery. 

Although I think of Howard Johnson's as only being a place for ice cream, apparently they had a great fish fry. Here's an ad from June 2, 1960.

Anyway, Howard Johnson's survived until sometime around 1976, when it disappeared from the phone book. I was actually surprised it lasted that long. Its location down on Route 6 between Leavitt Road and the spot where 21st Street joins up with the highway meant that we almost never went passed it if we were going west. (We'd take 21st Street instead, bypassing Howard Johnson's, the Castle and McDonald's.) I'll bet a lot of other families did the same.

But getting back to Chris' Restaurant. Here's a recent shot of the place, followed by a vintage Howard Johnson's of roughly the same era for comparison. It looks like a dead-on match to me.

The inside of Chris', to me at least, looked unchanged from its days as a Howard Johnson's, with its 1960's era booths. So of course that meant that I loved it! I'll be back for sure. And soon.

Avon Dairy Treat 1956 Grand Opening Ad

Over the weekend, we hit one of our favorite spots for the first time this year: Avon Dairy Treat. It's out on Route 611 where it meets up with Route 254. We've been going there for about the last 20 years. It's just far enough away to make it a nice drive.

The above photo was taken about a week ago, on an overcast Sunday in the middle of the afternoon. That's why it isn't packed like it normally is. (Click on the photo for a closer look.)

I really like the classic drive-in architecture and ice cream cone sign. I guess I'm influenced by things like that when it comes to what businesses I patronize. (Oh, and it helps if they have good food and good service too, like Avon Dairy Treat!)

While gawking at microfilm in the library recently, I happened to stumble upon the June 9, 1956 Grand Opening newspaper ad for Avon Dairy Treat. Here it is.

It's kind of interesting that the vintage ad says Dairy Treats instead of the current 'Treat'. (Maybe the 'S" didn't fit on the sign.) I'm also a bit confused about the 'no carry outs' ad copy! I guess you had to eat it there!

Anyway, I'm glad this place has survived all these years - it's a Lorain County classic. So take a short drive out in the country and visit Avon Dairy Treat!

Carlisle Drive-in Gala Opening 1955

Gee, my drive-in movie blog series just keeps going and going...

I found this ad accidentally during some recent research.

Back here, I posted a photo that I took of the old Carlisle Drive-in on Route 20 shortly before it was torn down. The only information I had about it was from a Chronicle-Telegram article from about that time. The C-T noted that the theater opened in 1949.

Well, at least I know when the Carlisle Drive-in opened for the 1955 season: April 9, 1955, the day this ad ran in the Lorain Journal. It's interesting that the Carlisle had a CinemaScope screen.

If anyone remembers going to the Carlisle, be sure to post some memories in the 'comments' section!

This drive-in was too far out in the country (like the ad says) for me to have patronized it. Plus, I'm not even sure the Journal ran very many of their ads.