2024, Business, Food, Gatherings, Mysteries

End of an Era?

36 Comments

I saw on the news that the last Hooters in West Virginia closed last month with a large candlelight vigil prior to its demolition.  The local news mentioned it ahead of time and several hundred people showed up. 

The vigil part of the story didn’t surprise me but the fact that there are still Hooters was the shock to me.  I haven’t heard anything about Hooters and I never see them anywhere but a quick search reveals that there are over 400 worldwide, including one right in my backyard – at the Mall of America.  Guess that’s what happens when you only go to the Mall of America once a year (to redeem birthday coupons at Auntie Annies and Cinnabon).  Since I’ve never eaten at a Hooters (just seems a little too tasteless of a gimmick to me), I can’t say whether all of West Virginia franchises closing is a loss or not.  But I know the chances are slim that I would ever go to a candlelight vigil for one.

Is there a restaurant that you’d consider attending a vigil for if it were closing?

36 thoughts on “End of an Era?”

  1. Hooters food is mediocre at best and rather expensive. It’s the “scenery” that attracts many customers. Must be the owls people enjoy seeing.

    I haven’t eaten at a sit down restaurant for a very long time so no vigil for me. I would be saddened if Pisanello’s pizza Franklin, Ohio passed away.

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        1. YA loves pineapple on her pizza. Unfortunately, although I love pineapple, pineapple doesn’t love me. So no pineapple on my side.

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  2. Though I think it’s sad when a favorite small restaurant closes, I don’t think I’d attend a vigil for it.

    I was saddened when Khyper Pass closed, and before that, when Caravan Serai did. Hans and I did make a point of having dinner one last time at The Barbara Fig when it was announced it was closing.

    Over the years, though, there have been a lot of small restaurants that have bit the dust for whatever reasons. Inevitably, something else fills the void. I have never eaten at Hooters, and can’t think of a reason why I should.

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    1. I loved Caravan Serai. And as I recall, so did Steve. I’ve never found anything like it – every now and then there’s a place that just isn’t reproduce-able.

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  3. I’m wondering why the vigil part of the story didn’t surprise you. It surprises me. If those hundreds of people attending the vigil actually patronized the business, would it be closing? What other business—restaurant or otherwise—merits a vigil when it comes to an end? Is there some symbolic significance to Hooters in West Virginia? If so, what’s wrong with them?

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    1. I was curious so looked it up.

      The store had been closed for 4 years because of the pandemic. Now the location becomes a Sheetz gas and store.

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  5. My niece used to work at an ice cream shop at the megamall when she was a teenager. The (male) manager of the Hooters would stop in to get ice cream and try to entice her to apply for a job as a server there.

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  6. Rise and Shine Baboons,

    My hometown of LeMars, Iowa has Beard Award winner Archie’s Waeside Inn, a classic Midwest Steakhouse. If that closes there would be vigils, gnashing of teeth, and public mourning. People travel many miles to dine there.

    OT–my quiet day at home yesterday got me organized and focused. I was able to solve several problems getting inthe way (i.e. online access to health records).  Lou is doing better sounding more like himself. Now, off to my day doing more of the same.

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  7. I’m not a restaurant loyalist in general, but I was truly saddened when Perfect Day Cakes here in Owatonna closed up shop several years ago. I went there regularly to enjoy world-class cupcakes and work on my books. Had my first book launch there in 2016. I did go to a farewell dinner party for the owner, but that wasn’t a vigil, just a chance to say goodbye.

    Chris in Owatonna

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  8. Two different local restaurants that YA and I liked a lot shut down during pandemic. Annie’s Parlor and Convention Grill. Annie’s Parlor does a great triple-decker grilled cheese and Convention Grill of course has the french fry thing going on there. Anyway, the owner unfortunately passed away this past December but the two sons have reopened Annie’s Parlor just recently. I have to get over there. And the word on the street is that they’re working towards reopening Convention Grill as well. That would be fabulous.

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  9. I remember when Muffaletta’s closed, I missed it even though I didn’t get there often.

    It would have to be something pretty close to home for me to go to a vigil.I guess if the Blue Heron Cafe (where I just came from, a morning meeting with scone and coffee) closed, I’d do a vigil for that. They reopened after Covid, thank heaven, if just Wed – Sunday.

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  10. Restaurants come and go. I miss them for a while, but usually something comes to take their place.

    There has been a favorite restaurant in Faribault since the 1980s, The Depot. It went through a couple of owners, but in the ‘90s Chef Jeff LeBeau bought it. He immediately improved the food and brought it up from burgers and fries. The food is still really good and he’s always trying out new things. It’s one of my favorite places. I have lots of memories there. It’s right next to the train tracks in Faribault in the old train depot, hence the name. When I say it’s right next to the tracks, I mean less than ten feet. There is a wrought iron fence between the tracks and the outdoor patio, but when you think of a derailing train versus a wrought iron fence, it looks pretty flimsy. The train sails by while you’re enjoying your meal. Sometimes there are drink specials when the train goes by. I’d be sad if The Depot closed, but I’d get over it. My friend Pam might want to hold a vigil. I wouldn’t.

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  11. In response to Bill’s comment above about other businesses that might warrant a vigil upon closing, I can think of a couple of small businesses that I still feel a pang of sadness that they’re gone. The Hungry Mind bookstore on Grand Ave comes instantly to mind. It was a place that I loved to hang out on Saturday mornings. Savran’s on the West Bank in Minneapolis is another. Both book stores had such a great vibe.

    The Paper Patisserie on Selby Ave was a gift store that I’d visit whenever I had a need for a special card, wrapping paper, or unique gift. It closed because the owner retired; I still miss it. Same thing with The Bibelot gift store.

    Another shopping experience that I miss is the monthly Saturday morning at St. Agnes Bakery. I know other baboons went there, too. It was just such a joyful way to spend an hour or two with in fun company.

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    1. I lived above Savran’s in the late ‘60s, so I spent a lot of time there. My younger daughter was taking Highland Dance lessons at Macalester back when the Hungry Mind was still the hungry mind so I often would head over there during her lesson. There are many great bookstores, both new and used that I frequented and that are no more. I miss them, of course, but a vigil wouldn’t help.

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  13. There used to be a breakfast place on the WestSide called Backstreet Grill. I went there for breakfast many a Saturday morning. It was owned by two guys, at least one of which would be at the register taking the checks on the way out. The servers were friendly and efficient. After it closed, I ran into one of them when she was having a garage sale at her house. Told her how I missed the place.

    Yes to Khyber Pass Muffuletta, and St. Agnes. I also loved the restaurants in the Dayton’s stores in the downtowns. The River Room, the Iron Horse, the Oak Grill Room.

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  14. There were a couple places in Rochester that I still miss from my youthful years. Waldo’s pizza, and Edwardo’s are my two favorites.

    Tinklers and Wellingtons were the two most popular post show theater crowd hangouts. And the downtown Newts, which was upstairs. It closed just a few years ago, but there are three other Newts around.

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