Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Is The Coffee Shop Concept On The Way Out?
Posted 09-09-2020 at 07:03 PM by case44
I hope not.
Look, folks, places like Denny's, IHOP, Village Inn, Perkins, and Carrows still have a place in the hearts, minds, and..........stomachs of Americans in many places. They may not have the popularity they once had some thirty years ago, but they haven't left us, either. You may remember a coffee shop chain called Sambo's, which had the same type of concept as a Denny's or a Carrows. These restaurants offer cushion seating at tables and booths, and have counters for single patrons who are giving everybody else room. These places also have an extensive menu all day, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus all the coffee you can drink. And there's usually a pie pantry as you enter the eatery, with a large array to please the dessert-induced palate. The places I'm referring to are called coffee shops.
Now, these can't be called coffee houses. That's different. That's Starbucks and other coffee brands, local and regional, offering barista service. Some locations offer reading rooms and small stages for local musicians. Not like that at IHOP. Heck, I even endorse a San Antonio-based eatery known as Jim's, which has locations in San Antonio and Austin. Good food, and regional flair. Remember Kip's Big Boy? I used to go there as a kid, but I never got to have their breakfasts. They did have the Big Boy, which is basically the charbroiled version of the McDonald's Big Mac. I'd follow it with a plain hot fudge sundae. Both sound pretty good right now.
While Denny's still maintains a lot of its repertoire from its heyday, the coffee shop has, in some locations, been replaced with the diner concept. The Dennyburger used to be a great hamburger. For whatever reason, Denny's stopped char-broiling. The last time I had a Dennyburger, I was through after just three bites. It just didn't taste good at all. The meat was terrible. But thirty years ago, a char-broiled Dennyburger with that special sauce and pickles and cheese, now, that was greatness! Sided with a Coca-Cola and some perfectly fried French fries, that was some meal. Today, however, I limit Denny's to just breakfast, as they haven't lost their touch with that. And, you know, their coffee isn't bad at all.
Ol' Case just has a soft spot for coffee shops. I hope people don't lose interest in working in such places, and I also hope that folks still have a little enthusiasm for a slice of Americana, even if it's just for a guilty pleasure.
Look, folks, places like Denny's, IHOP, Village Inn, Perkins, and Carrows still have a place in the hearts, minds, and..........stomachs of Americans in many places. They may not have the popularity they once had some thirty years ago, but they haven't left us, either. You may remember a coffee shop chain called Sambo's, which had the same type of concept as a Denny's or a Carrows. These restaurants offer cushion seating at tables and booths, and have counters for single patrons who are giving everybody else room. These places also have an extensive menu all day, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus all the coffee you can drink. And there's usually a pie pantry as you enter the eatery, with a large array to please the dessert-induced palate. The places I'm referring to are called coffee shops.
Now, these can't be called coffee houses. That's different. That's Starbucks and other coffee brands, local and regional, offering barista service. Some locations offer reading rooms and small stages for local musicians. Not like that at IHOP. Heck, I even endorse a San Antonio-based eatery known as Jim's, which has locations in San Antonio and Austin. Good food, and regional flair. Remember Kip's Big Boy? I used to go there as a kid, but I never got to have their breakfasts. They did have the Big Boy, which is basically the charbroiled version of the McDonald's Big Mac. I'd follow it with a plain hot fudge sundae. Both sound pretty good right now.
While Denny's still maintains a lot of its repertoire from its heyday, the coffee shop has, in some locations, been replaced with the diner concept. The Dennyburger used to be a great hamburger. For whatever reason, Denny's stopped char-broiling. The last time I had a Dennyburger, I was through after just three bites. It just didn't taste good at all. The meat was terrible. But thirty years ago, a char-broiled Dennyburger with that special sauce and pickles and cheese, now, that was greatness! Sided with a Coca-Cola and some perfectly fried French fries, that was some meal. Today, however, I limit Denny's to just breakfast, as they haven't lost their touch with that. And, you know, their coffee isn't bad at all.
Ol' Case just has a soft spot for coffee shops. I hope people don't lose interest in working in such places, and I also hope that folks still have a little enthusiasm for a slice of Americana, even if it's just for a guilty pleasure.
Total Comments 5
Comments
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To give you an idea of why I wrote this: Village Inn used to have a mild stronghold on Oklahoma. That was ten years ago. Customer bases have since faded, and none of the restaurants were even ten percent full every time I've visited one during the last ten to twelve years. The Memorial Drive location in Tulsa was one which I frequented on previous trips. It is now closed. Tulsa has just one location left, on Harvard Avenue near the Broken Arrow Expressway. As recently as five years ago, Tulsa had a half-dozen VI locations.
Oklahoma City had two that I knew of a decade ago. Both are closed now. But I'm willing to bet that there used to be a few more beyond what was mentioned. That Northwest Expressway location was a good one. I'll miss it dearly.Posted 09-13-2020 at 09:00 PM by case44
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Very interesting topic. I have a soft spot for coffee shops myself and went regularly back in the 90s when I was a college kid. Breakfast at dinner time was my thing. I still remember the distinct aroma walking in to those places... Like coffee, pancake syrup, sausage links all sort of mixed together.
As matter of fact, Village inn was one of my go to places and checked to see if it still exists in my old college stomping grounds in Springfield. Mo. Yep. Still there! There was also Denny's and you got a free meal on your birthday (remember that?), Shoney's, Country Kitchen, Waffle House and a couple independent places. The low counter seating was always my favorite.Posted 09-22-2020 at 05:36 PM by MoNative34 
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I still love Jim's in Austin and San Antonio. Great breakfast, but they could improve their bacon. Just saying. And they have a long and great history in those cities.
By the way, Village Inn is still popular in El Paso. When I'm out there, that's my go-to.Posted 09-22-2020 at 06:34 PM by case44
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I haven't been to Denny's in at least 15 years. I'll give it a try this week and report back to you. Station 51 KMG365....Posted 09-23-2020 at 08:38 AM by MoNative34
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Hey, Mo, be sure to give Chet Kelly a good word for me. At Denny's, they still have good breakfasses , and their coffee isn't too bad.Posted 09-23-2020 at 06:17 PM by case44
