Whiting’s Restaurants: 1952-1977
John Hmurovic
August 2023
Below is a list of Whiting’s restaurants for most of the 1950s and 1970s, and all of the 1960s. Why those years? During those years, and for much of the 20th century, the R.L. Polk Company printed City Directories for communities across the United States, including several years for Whiting and Hammond. There was not one printed every year. There was one for 1952, for instance, but not for 1953. As a result, this list may be missing some entries. But, this will be an on-going project. We will search other sources, and even expand beyond the quarter-century of 1952 to 1977.
Confectionary stores were popular in Whiting, even into the second half of the 20th century. They sold candy, and many also sold ice cream and other sweets. They were often found in neighborhoods, because the owners wanted to make it an easy walk for their customers: children with a sweet tooth. This photo is from 1936, and it shows a group of children in front of a confectionary store on New York Avenue.
The period of 1952 to 1977, however, is a good place to start, because it covers an interesting time. It was a time of change. As you go through the list, for instance, notice the number of confectionaries. Confectionaries isn’t a word commonly used these days. A confectionary is essentially a candy shop, which might also sell ice cream. They were common in Whiting in the early 1950s but started to fade away by the 1970s. Many, you will notice, were not on main streets like 119th Street, Indianapolis Boulevard, or Calumet Avenue. They were on 121st Street, Clark Street, Schrage Avenue or White Oak Avenue, and even on John Street and Myrtle Avenue. They were close to, and convenient for, their main target: children. They were neighborhood stores, at a time when neighborhoods were stronger than they are today.
When a company has something to celebrate, they want to make it a memorable occasion. So, they pick a good restaurant. Phil Smidt’s was that kind of restaurant, drawing the attention of companies in Chicago as well as Northwest Indiana. This photo is from June 1953, and shows employees of the Rembrandt Lamp Company of Chicago enjoying their celebration at Phil Smidt’s.
As for the main streets, there were plenty of eating places on 119th Street and Calumet Avenue, but Indianapolis Boulevard was the main stretch where you could dine. The best dining was north on the Boulevard and on Calumet. While many restaurants on 119th depended mostly on Whiting diners, those further north drew heavily from Chicago. Phil Smidt’s was known throughout Chicagoland as a place for top-of-the-line seafood dining.
Notice, also, something that was common in the early years covered by this list. Many restaurants were simply named after their owners. It was the same thing with confectionaries, and although this list does not cover taverns and corner grocery stores, those also were known by the name of their owners. It was a time before chain restaurants, a time when the restaurant owner lived in town and worked at his or her establishment.
The list is arranged by address, which allows you to see who did business at each location. The years shown are the years they were found in the City Directories.
Again, this list is a work in progress. We may have, inadvertently, omitted some businesses. However, it is a start. Here is the list of restaurants in Whiting-Robertsdale from 1952 to 1977.
The building at 822 119th Street has been an apartment building for years, but in its early life the building’s ground floor was a popular teen hangout. In the late 1940s and into the 1950s it was known as The Chatterbox. In the 1960s it was The Corral. Located on the corner of 119th and Davis Avenue, it was directly across the street from Clark High School, the place where most of the customers came from after a long day of getting an education. A corner of Clark is on the left in this photo.
1111 112th Street
1962 – Lynn’s Restaurant
822 119th Street
1952 - Chatterbox
1962-1976 - The Corral
The Hob-Nob was a restaurant inside the Illiana Hotel building. The Illiana Hotel stood on the corner of 119th and Atchison Avenue. The Illiana apartment building was built on this site in more recent years.
823 119th Street
1963-1965 - Varsity Grill
1110 119th Street
1952 – William Rose Confectionary
1120 119th Street
1964 – Butternut Thrift Store
1204 119th Street
1952-1977 - Hob Nob Café
1322 119th Street
1952-1954 – James Michelin’s Restaurant
1956-1976 - Ralph’s Restaurant
1976 – Mika’s Ranch House
1342 119th Street
1977 – Drabek’s Restaurant
1350 119th Street
1952 – Arthur Metts Confectionary
1404 119th Street
1976-1977 – Indiana Red Hots
A 1959 ad for the Home Bakery, which appeared in the Times-Graphic, Whiting’s newspaper in that era.
1418 ½ 119th Street
1952-1958 – Indiana Lunch
1959-1974 - Indiana Red Hots
1961-1962 – Rose’s Chili Bowl
1423 119th Street
1954 - Cookieland
1426 119th Street
1958-1962 – Home Bakery
1440 119th Street
1952 – Gridiron Sweet Shop
1446 119th Street
1976-1977 – Barton’s Pizza
1452 119th Street
1977 – The Family Restaurant
Whiting’s 119th Street provides a background to phots of the city’s events, including this photo of Frontier Days in the 1960s. Behind the cowboy and horse on the right is Indiana Red Hots at 1418 -1/2 119th Street.
1516 119th Street
1961-1962 – Melody Restaurant
1522 119th Street
1974 – Al’s Pizza
1528 119th Street
1954-1964 - Murad’s Snack Shop
1965 – Purple Onion
1970 – Wilkening Castle
1532 119th Street
1952-1959 – Harry Hassan’s Restaurant
1961-1963 – Liberty Lunch
1963-1974 - Busy Bee
1604 119th Street
1954-1958 – Uptown Lunch
1962-1977 - Whiting Lunch & Recreation
Whiting Lunch was at 1604 119th Street, the location of Major Cutz Studios today. Nardi’s Lounge is to its left in this photo from the early 1970s, and Whiting Hardware is to its right.
1620 119th Street
1952-1959 – Eftim Shocaroff’s Confectionary
1961-1974 – Whiting Confectionary
1621 119th Street
1952-1954 – Naum Todoroff’s Confectionary
1956-1976 – Whiting Sugar Bowl
1204 121st Street
1952-1958 – John Buksar’s Confectionary
1961-1965 - Banik’s Sundries
1966 – Sophia’s Sundries
1242 121st Street
1952-1965 – Sophia Wiak’s Confectionary
1205 Calumet Avenue
1952-1977 - Phil Smidt & Son
1247 Calumet Avenue
1952-1958 – Peter Levant’s Restaurant
1959-1963 – George Diamond Charcoal Broiled Steak house
1963-1973 - Juster’s Charcoal Broiled Steak House
Phil Smidt’s was famous. All across the Chicago area people knew it as one of the best places to get perch, frog legs, and other great food. It attracted celebrities and sports heroes. On the far left in this photo is actor James Cagney at Phil Smidt’s, probably in the 1940s.
1329 Calumet Avenue
1952-1954 – Minnie Schmidt’s Restaurant
1956 – Bill & Ted’s Restaurant
1958-1959 – Club Chester
1349 Calumet Avenue
1956-1977 - Margaret’s Geneva House
1608 Calumet Avenue
1965 – Unique Donut Shop
1710 Calumet Avenue
1958-1977 - Towne House Lounge
The Geneva House opened in 1913, at Five Points in Robertsdale, where the Horizon Bank branch now sits. Like most of the restaurants in the Five Points area it was known for its seafood. It was, initially, more expensive than the others, charging 50-cents per dinner. But unlike the others in that era, it had regular floors, rather than dirt and gravel floors. In the 1930s it became Margaret’s Geneva House, all the time staying under the ownership of the Winkelried family. The building was torn down to make room for the bank in 1990.
1840 Calumet Avenue
1952 – Air Lane Drive-In
1954 – Townley Drive-In
1850 Calumet Avenue
1954 – Phillip’s Restaurant & Bar
1962-1963 – Mr. Robert’s Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge
1915-1917 Calumet Avenue
1956-1963 – Zesto
1965-1977 – Merry Isle
This is a Zesto ice cream shop in Fort Wayne, but the one that used to be at 1915 Calumet Avenue looked much like this. The sign on top of the building was identical, and customers had to walk up to the window to order. When Zesto closed around 1964 the store remained an ice cream shop, called Merry Isle. Later, it became a hot dog stand. Today, the site is a part of the parking lot just north of Frankie V’s.
1932 Calumet Avenue
1958-1959 – Baker Boy Pizza
1961-1976 - Dino’s Pizza
2143 Calumet Avenue
1952-1971 - Spiccia’s Restaurant
1972-1974 – Lee’s Steak House
1977 – Spiccia’s Restaurant
Proximity to Chicago has always been an advantage of all businesses located close to the state line, including the smoke shops and fireworks stores of today. In an earlier time, restaurants were located there. As this Al Knapp’s matchbook shows, Chicago played a major role in their advertising. It was the first of the fine dining restaurants that Chicagoans would see once they crossed the state line into Indiana. It was located on the southside of Indianapolis Boulevard, close to the overpass that now goes to Horseshoe Casino.
2412 Calumet Avenue
1952 – Nicholas Bozich Restaurant
1954-1966 - Point Drive-In
1966-1977 – Helen’s Truck Stop
1931 Clark Street
1956 – Dixie Cream Donut Shop
1937 Clark Street
1952-1959 – Joseph Benes Confectionary
1904 Front Street
1952 – Joseph Gulacy Restaurant
1966-1977 – Corner Snack Shop
610 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1954 – Melody Lane Drive-In
637 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – Robert Shipley Restaurant
790 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1954 – Sam Arvetis Restaurant
802 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1954 – Roby Inn Cafe
1052 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1976 - Al Knapp
1106 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1954 – Roby Candy Store
1119 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – Rustemis Bageklalius Restaurant
1250 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1977 – Vogel’s Restaurant
1402 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – Steak-n-Shake
1954-1976 - Art’s Drive-In
Vogel’s was another restaurant close to Chicago that was known for its fish. Early in its history, Robertsdale was a sportsman’s paradise with plentiful hunting and fishing. Most of those sportsmen came from Chicago, and many of the customers of Vogel’s, like the other fine restaurants in Robertsdale, also came from Chicago. Locals, however, were also steady customers, and many wedding and other celebrations took place inside its banquet hall. This photo is from 1944.
1423 Indianapolis Boulevard
1973-1974 – Fonda del Lago
1976-1977 – Dragon Castle
1440 Indianapolis Boulevard
1954-1977 - Condes Drive-In Restaurant
1441 Indianapolis Boulevard
1954-1959 – Cathcart’s Dairy Queen
1961-1966 – Companik Dairy Queen
1968-1976 – Mary Kay’s Dairy Queen
1977 – Hronsky’s Dairy Queen
1449 Indianapolis Boulevard
1954-1958 – Chubby’s Drive-In
1457 Indianapolis Boulevard
1959 – Burger Chef
1503 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – A&A Drive-In
1961-1962 – Wally’s Dog House
1963-1977 - Arnie’s Dog House
1514 Indianapolis Boulevard
1966-1976 – Wow-Wee Drive In
1977 – Mister Sandwich
The 1950s saw the arrival of several drive-in restaurants, including Art’s, located at Five Points where the Purple Steer Restaurant is now located. Like all drive-ins, you could sit in your car and eat at Art’s while a carhop, usually a high school girl, would bring your order out on a tray that hooked onto the driver’s side window. “Art” was Art Falkenhan. Before opening his own drive-in in 1953, he operated the Steak ‘n Shake at the same location.
1516 Indianapolis Boulevard
1964 - Buzzy’s Black Steer
1541 Indianapolis Boulevard
1969-1977 – Dunkin Donuts
1716 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1962 – Sandrick’s Sundries Confectionary
1730 Indianapolis Boulevard
1970-1977 – Dudzik’s Kentucky Fried Chicken
1822 Indianapolis Boulevard
1977 – McDonald’s
1853 Indianapolis Boulevard
1963-1964 - Millie’s Café
It was originally known as Condes Drive-In, but over the years it developed into one of the top destinations for locals to dine. Unlike its fine dining neighbors to the north on Calumet Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard, Condes had a wider menu and prices that were more suited for local wallets. It was located at 1440 Indianapolis Boulevard. A gas station, just south of the Purple Steer Restaurant, is now located there.
1858 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1954 – Victory Restaurant
1867 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1956 – George & Milton Xidas Restaurant
1879 Indianapolis Boulevard
1954-1977 - White Castle
2001 Indianapolis Boulevard
1956-1977 - Ande’s Pizza
2045 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – Helen Brown’s Restaurant
1954-1958 – Bergundy Cow
1962-1963 - Ruth’s Restaurant
1965-1969 – Fifth Wheel
Before there was Arnie’s Dog House, it was Wally’s Dog House. And before that, A&A Drive-In was located at 1503 Indianapolis Boulevard. The 14- and15-hundred block of Indianapolis Boulevard, especially the east side of it, had numerous drive-ins and fast food places, starting with Dairy Queen at 1441 Indianapolis Boulevard, Chubby’s Drive-In at 1449, Wow-Wee Drive-In and Mister Sandwich across the street at 1514. Indianapolis-based chain Burger Chef was here briefly, located where the Subway is today. McDonald’s did not arrive until 1977.
2141 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1956 – Whiting Bakery
1956-1977 – Boulevard Bakery
2229 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – James Benetich’s Restaurant
2345 Indianapolis Boulevard
1954-1956 – Green Lantern Drive-In
2418 Indianapolis Boulevard
1959–1970 - A&W Root Beer Drive-In
1974-1977 – Vienna Snacks
Dunkin Donuts came to town in 1968. Prior to its arrival, the lot that it is still on was the home of a gas station.
2446 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952-1959 – Boulevard Grill
2913 Indianapolis Boulevard
1952 – Sidney White’s Restaurant
1954 – James Mathews Restaurant
1409 John Street
1952 – Vasil Bobalik Confectionary
1520 Myrtle Avenue
1952-1954 – Josephine Merriman’s Confectionary
1917 New York Avenue
1954-1956 – Cozy Lunch
1958 – O & O Cafe
1920 New York Avenue
1952-1954 – Bill’s Recreation
1961-1971 - SH&M Lunch
1972 – Shirley’s Restaurant
1927 New York Avenue
1952 – Henry Hill’s Restaurant
1949 New York Avenue
1952-1954 – Coffee Shop
2235 New York Avenue
1952 – Chester Price’s Restaurant
1928 Schrage Avenue
1952-1954 – James Osmen’s Restaurant
Wanda Dudzik, in the center in this photo, was the Queen of Fried Chicken in the area. The Kentucky Fried Chicken store she opened at 1730 Indianapolis Boulevard was the seventh that she owned and operated. To build it, she had to buy the old Robertsdale Fire Station that was on that site. Today, King Chop Suey is located there. This photo was from the dedication of the new building and opening of the new business and was taken in March 1969.
2047 Schrage Avenue
1963-1973 - Runick’s Lounge & Dining Room
1974-1976 – Selo’s Lounge & Dining Room
2101 Schrage Avenue
1952-1963 – Lewis Turner’s Confectionary
1965-1977 – Standard Confectionary
2400 Schrage Avenue
1963 - Indiana Sundries
2637 Schrage Avenue
1952-1963 – Robert McClelland’s Confectionary
1965-1977 – South Town Confectionary
2620 Sheffield Avenue
1961-1963 – Martin’s Truck Stop
1966 – Blanche’s Truck Stop
2000 White Oak Avenue
1956 – The Oil Can
2440 White Oak Avenue
1961-1968 – Rose Dafcik’s Confectionary
Since the 1950s, 2141 Indianapolis Boulevard was known as a bakery. First it was the Whiting Bakery, and then in 1956 it became the Boulevard Bakery. Today, the building still stands, but it is now San Luis, a restaurant serving Mexican food.
2444 White Oak Avenue
1954 – Cecilia Anthony’s Confectionary
1956-1958 – Agnes Wojnicz Confectionary
1961 – Ceil’s Confectionary