Metro Jacksonville

Book Review: Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville

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Metro Jacksonville's Kristen Pickrell provides us with a review of Dorthy Fletcher's recently published book, "Lost Restaurants of Jacksonville."

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-dec-book-review-lost-restaurants-of-jacksonville

What a great book idea!

Agreed Wacca. Can someone list the 20 lost restaurants?

I don't remember if this is the exact name, but Old South on Atlantic (Beach). Fond memories of going there as a kid. Burned down I think.

That top picture reminds me of the song 'In the Mood'. Maybe they could clear out the tables, and let the old timers dance, with the foxtrot, ragtime, and swing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJfuKdzbOo

I had the opportunity to read this book and I enjoyed it.  It provided me with some insight into a lot of places we've posted exterior images of over the years.  Here's a few pics from the Florida Photographic Collection:

Crawdaddy's in 1984
(http://www.floridamemory.com/fpc/ffl/ffl0585.jpg)
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/112827

Inside Hotel Roosevelt's restaurant
(http://www.floridamemory.com/fpc/postcard/pc1520.jpg)
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/159218

Bernie's in 1940
(http://www.floridamemory.com/fpc/spottswood/sp00834.jpg)
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/51880

Quote from: CityLife on December 10, 2013, 10:47:05 AM
Agreed Wacca. Can someone list the 20 lost restaurants?

Part 1: City Core

Short Line in the Carriage Room: Morrison's Cafeteria
The Jean Ribault Room at Sears, Roebuck & Company
The Steer Room
Ivory's Chili Parlor and Barbeque
Berney's Restaurant, Jenks Restaurant and Key's Chili Parlor
Worman's, Leb's and Waldz Delicatessens
The Embers Restaurant
Ieyasu of Tokyo
The Green Derby
Hotel Restaurants

Part 2: Over The River

The Lobster House Restaurant and the Dolphin Restaurant in Marineland, FL
Some Place Else, Diamond Heat, Harbormaster, Crawdaddy's and Surfside 6
Biser's Restaurant
Strickland's Family Restaurants
Howard Johnson's Restaurants
Joann's Chili Bordello
The Sea Turtle and the Green Turtle
Old South Restaurant
Curb Service Drive-Ins
Patti's Italian and American Restaurant
Le Chateau
The Homestead Restaurant

Part 3: Everywhere Else

Denny Moran's, Bamboo Luau and Karl Hellenthal's Restaurants
The Palms Fish Camp and Buccaneer Restaurant
The Thunderbird Motor Hotel
Annie Tiques

When and why did Crawdaddys close?


Reading that list of places in the book makes me realize I miss so many things I didn't even know I was missing!!


I'm depressed now... :(

i know its not old but i sure miss yatsu downtow for sushi..

i know its not old but i sure miss yatsu downtow for sushi..

Wonderful book.  I had forgotten some of these restaurants.  Reading it recalled fond memories of some of these places I enjoyed in the sixties and seventies, before I left Jax in 1985.  Moved back last summer.  I found myself wanting more detail and histories of the places.

Got the book at no cost at Chamblin's on Laura.  Well, sort of.  I traded in some books I had finished.  Was a little disappointed though.  They took only a few of my books.

Would be neat to see a book like this on all the movie drive-ins and theaters.  I do miss the old theaters -- Wasn't there a "Capital".  I remember the "Imperial".

The Imperial was downtown...and the Empress Theatre was right next door.

Quote from: AmyLynne on December 10, 2013, 12:55:01 PM
When and why did Crawdaddys close?


Reading that list of places in the book makes me realize I miss so many things I didn't even know I was missing!!


I'm depressed now... :(

Specialty Restaurants was losing money and sold the property to another restaurant group.. who immediately closed the restaurant, fired everyone and thought they would tear it down to build a large riverfront restaurant... and then they experienced financial difficulties of their own and that plan never came to fruition.

One of the best brunches in Jax at the time.  I vividly remember one News Year Eve going to dinner at Crawdaddys, then walking over to the Landing.  Fireworks were cancelled b/c of thick fog (you couldn't see the Landing from the Main Street Bridge).  Florida played NC State in the Gator Bowl that year (believe Shane Matthews was the QB).

Crawdaddys always looked like it was about to fall over from the outside, but the interior was quite nice and has an impressive number of tables that had spectacular river views b/c the dining room had three different levels to maximize river views. 

Quote from: fieldafm on December 10, 2013, 09:44:43 PM

Quote from: AmyLynne on December 10, 2013, 12:55:01 PM
When and why did Crawdaddys close?


Reading that list of places in the book makes me realize I miss so many things I didn't even know I was missing!!


I'm depressed now... :(

Specialty Restaurants was losing money and sold the property to another restaurant group.. who immediately closed the restaurant, fired everyone and thought they would tear it down to build a large riverfront restaurant... and then they experienced financial difficulties of their own and that plan never came to fruition.

One of the best brunches in Jax at the time.  I vividly remember one News Year Eve going to dinner at Crawdaddys, then walking over to the Landing.  Fireworks were cancelled b/c of thick fog (you couldn't see the Landing from the Main Street Bridge).  Florida played NC State in the Gator Bowl that year (believe Shane Matthews was the QB).

Crawdaddys always looked like it was about to fall over from the outside, but the interior was quite nice and has an impressive number of tables that had spectacular river views b/c the dining room had three different levels to maximize river views.

Thank you for the info. I loved that place and miss seeing it whenever I am down at the end of the river walk....which I admit, isn't very often any more.

Quote from: rutabaga on December 10, 2013, 08:55:02 PM
Would be neat to see a book like this on all the movie drive-ins and theaters.  I do miss the old theaters -- Wasn't there a "Capital".  I remember the "Imperial".

Yes, the Capitol Theatre was in Springfield at the intersection of 8th & Main.  It is the only building that no longer exists on that particular block of Main.

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Thanks Lakelander.  Actually, I wasn't sure about the Capital.  But it "did" exist after all. Its interesting that it was that far north.  Of course, the old city core was larger than it appears to be now.  The old city activity spread north, past the seeming barrier of State and Union streets.  When we used to go downtown as children in the fifties there was no big church on the blocks near State/Union.  I don't remember when the church got so big.  For the most part, I avoided downtown after the sixties, keeping busy and buying "stuff" in the outlying westside areas.   

I went to the Capital many times as a kid.

This is great.  I will have to pick up a copy.

I can remember Crawdaddy's as a kid and Ieyasu as well.  I still miss them to this day.  Sad that Crawdaddy's never was replaced.

Not old enough to be considered historic probably, but I miss lighthouse grille. They had the best chef salad I've ever had.

My father used to take me down to the 8th street area to shop or eat at the pharmacy. That would have been the early Sixties. He said that 8th near Main was a happening place in the forties/fifties. Bars, restaurants, etc.