Cleveland/Akron Sisters Chicken Then and Now

 

Here's an updated look at the Sisters Chicken & Biscuit locations all around Cleveland and the Akron area. Hate to read? Words stupid? Watch the video version of this post here.

26030 Euclid Ave Sisters Chicken, Stir Crazy Jenny's, Popeye's Chicken

In 1978, a new fast-food chicken idea was hatched - and it was owned by Columbus, Ohio based Wendy's. That idea was Sisters Chicken & Biscuits. The first Sisters Chicken in the Cleveland area was built in 1981 at 15201 Euclid avenue in East Cleveland.  

Sisters Chicken & Biscuits 15201 Euclid Ave.

1974 Euclid Famous Recipe Chicken East 260th Underpass Ad

In October 1974 Famous Recipe Chicken in Euclid had a lot to celebrate! You see, the East 260th underpass was OPEN! No longer did you have to take some backwards roundabout way to get your hands on some delicious chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, or buttery rolls!

Pictured in this ad is the gleaming new underpass on the southern end of East 260th street. This underpass allowed traffic to flow freely and safely, unencumbered by the frequent trains above.

Euclid leaders cutting the ribbon is pictured to the right. I think my favorite is the little Beetle heading towards the camera.

For a neat $1.25 you could score yourself a regular chicken dinner with 3 pieces of chicken, potatoes, cole slaw and 2 rolls AND! A red and yellow ball point pen emblazoned with the Famous Recipe Chicken logo!

Bali Hai Euclid Free Gifts Christmas 1963

Bali Hai Chinese Restaurant - Free Christmas gifts on Christmas Day 1963! 

Stop by with the family for the only option on Christmas day, and have a relaxing cup of Oolong tea with your American Style Turkey Dinner!

 

Spudnut Euclid: 3 Locations Spanning 40 Years

In 1946 brothers Al and Bob Pelton of Salt Lake City, Utah began one of America's favorite food confections, a chain of Spudnut Donut Shops spanning Alaska to Mexico.

25971 Euclid Ave: Katz's Restaurant, Woldman's Delicatessen, Richmond Restaurant, Agnes Moore Dress Shop

Read the opening of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center.

25971 Euclid Ave was the third unit from East end of the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center.

Opening in 1952 with the plaza was Katz's Restaurant and Delicatessen, proprietors being Paul Ross and Dave Katz.

 

They put out adverts for waitresses and cooks from 1953 until 1959 or so.

1953, 1957, 1959.

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By 1961, 25971 Euclid Avenue was operating as Woldman's Restaurant and Delicatessen. Wife of part-owner Mike Cohen belonged to a committee to get the Euclid Sunday closing law repealed in June of that year.

June 1961

The law must have been a stick in the craw of the Cohen's and Woldman's, and they demonstrated that on Sundays in 1962 by having their wait staff dress up in old-fashioned clothing and handing out menus printed in Old English. I personally think this is quite fucking awesome.

February 1962, Sheldon Woldman makes a statement

In April of 1962, about a month and a half later, disaster struck as fire raged through the restaurant and deli.

Damage as the result of a deep-fat fryer exploding

Undaunted, they persisted that they would re-open despite the fire that caused about $8,000 (that's about $64,000 in 2017) in damage.

April 1962

May 10, 1962, Woldman's ran an ad in the Euclid Journal to keep an eye out for the completely rebuilt restaurant! They ran this ad and similar several times.

Run May 10, May 31, June 14, June 28,

July 5th 1962... soon!

Finally they were open... early August 1962.

So they re-opened. Neat

In 1971, though, Richmond Restaurant would at least for a few years, be found at 25971 Euclid Avenue.

1971, 1972, 1973

1977 - Need a dress, ladies?

And in 1979... selling off the fixtures.

And so 25971 Euclid Avenue stops right there.

Today? Part of Family Dollar, another unit merged to become part of 25991 Euclid Avenue.

Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center Opens - September 18th, 19th, & 20th 1952

On September 18, 1952 the Euclid-Richmond Shopping Center opened on the corner of East 260th and Euclid Avenue. It was quite the event that morning with Euclid Mayor Kenneth J. Sims leading the ceremonies that showcased the new plaza with city officials from Wickliffe, Willowick, Willoughby, and Richmond Heights making appearances.

Carrol's Restaurant 788 East 222nd St.

Today on this spot (788 East 222nd st.) sits a car wash. In 1969, the Medved family sold this property to Carrol's (a company that still thrives - read on to see just who you definitely know them as today).

This flyer with coupon is from the pre-Euclid, Ohio location. The location on 222nd street did not share the angular, googie build of the top store but rather the square seen nearer to the bottom.

The Parma Heights location actually still appears to be the same building, although it's now Chinese food and was previously a Pizza Hut. Neat!

1972

The following photos are of the Euclid Carrols restaurant:

1972

1973

1974

1975

Kind of bland, boxy, fast food style restaurant. I would have been heartbroken had there been 2 amazing googie restaurants that were torn down!

Not the Euclid location, but the same exact model

I'd never heard of Carrols before. Carrol's was there in 1971 but stayed for little more than half a decade. In 1975, the parent company entered into a franchise with Burger King, a relationship that lives on presently. Some locations were turned in Burger Kings and all the rest (there were over 150 in total) were phased out.

For nearly a week in September 1976, they were virtually giving away Carrol's coffee mugs. And by late Fall of 1977, the location was in business as a Red Barn.

In 1983/1984, 788 East 222 Street was known as Shalaam Fish House.

Cleveland Call and Post 17 Nov 1983

Today, Wash Works (790 E 222nd st):

Here's a few neat pieces from Carrol's restaurant.

Carrol's guest check pad

I stumped Carrols Hi Riddle Diddle pin

Hungry? Bali Ha'i Menu!

And you can read more about the former Bali Hai restaurant here.

22800 Shore Center: Glenn's Carteria & Thunderbird Drive-In Restaurant

Today, technically, there is no 22800 Shore Center Drive. The closest you'll get is 22780 Shore Center, which as of 2016 is a Rental Eagle Purchase store, or you know better as the former Perkin's Restaurant (Pancake House, for those of you with nostalgic inklings).

Eagle Rental Purchase, 22780 Shore Center Dr.

Perkins Family Restaurant, 22780 Shore Center Dr.

486 Euclid Square Mall

Unit 486 in Euclid Square Mall was right to your left when you entered the mall through the South East entrance. In 1977 it was a Beef Corral restaurant, and it opened with Euclid Square Mall.

Euclid is Beef Corral country! Beef as far as the eye can see!

In late 1984, Beef Corral was out, and the location was opened as an Arby's roast beef fast food restaurant.

I don't know when Arby's in Euclid Square Mall closed. I do know it has indeed been vacant and closed since at least 2004.The below photos of Beef Corral/Arby's at 486 Euclid Square Mall taken by me in Spring 2015.

Euclid to Net Big Gains in Dining Scene Thanks to Ambitious New Project

image courtesy Cleveland Scene

image courtesy Cleveland Scene

Great Scott Tavern is coming to 21801 Lakeshore Blvd. sometime in Spring 2015!

Euclid to Net Big Gains in Dining Scene Thanks to Ambitious New Project

Big Boy at 263 Babbitt Road Says Goodbye

Andrew wrote a fantastic history of a little known restaurant by the name of Lawson's that turned into a Big Boy.

As a Euclid transplant, I don't have as many personal memories as others do, but I remember the last time I ate at Bob's Big Boy on Babbitt. After Homecoming, 1994 at Eastlake North High.

Courtesy of the Euclid Sun Journal, October 2000.