 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2012-08-01 13:42:56
Do you remember?
Q- Do you remember some of the old restaurants in Wichita and some of their unique ideas? I am remembering the old Golden Chance Steak House and Saloon, where they would cut off gentlemen’s ties and hang them on the rafters. Do you remember this?
A- I remember several…and yes…I remember the Golden Chance Steak House and Saloon located at 4205 South Seneca back in the ‘60’s. Their unique feature was if a gentleman entered with a tie, it was cut off and stapled or nailed to the rafters. We visited with a friend who lived in the area at the time and frequently went there. He remembered having his tie cut off. He said the walls were covered with ties. They think one of the menu items that they enjoyed was red beans. We don’t know what happened to the ties when the building was torn down.
We appreciate the inquiry from Larry Bond and getting the exact location of the restaurant from the Wichita/Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum. He remembered the ceiling and crossbeams displayed hundreds of ties.
This inquiry helped us think of other great and unique restaurants in Wichita over the years. Do you remember Elizabeth’s at Bluff and Kellogg? A unique item on their menu was called “Elizabeth’s Surprise.” You ordered it not knowing what you were going to get.
Then we remember the Hickory houseowned by the Dry family. They actually had a French
Chef and they had a wonderful hors d' oeuvres tray that they wheeled to your table while you were waiting for your order. On East Kellogg was a small restaurant called the Chateau Briand known for good steaks and another good steak house was Steak and Ale which featured a cold salad bar and a marinated steak that was out of this world called “The Kensington Club.”
The Georgian Tea Room was on East Central and featured good chicken and dumplings.
Another favorite restaurant of my family was the Fife and Drum on East Central in a small building with an A-frame roof. We also often enjoyed the Polar Bear known for fried chicken and frozen custard.
Many good restaurants were located in hotels of the past such as the Broadview, Lassen, Allis and Eaton Hotels. There was also the Wichita Club. On the top of the old Holiday Hotel building which was the Garvey Center at Douglas and Waco was a fine restaurant with windows all around so that you could see the city in all directions. Also, downtown, was the Innes Tea Room in the Innes department store.
In North Wichita was the Stockyards Hotel Restaurant which had good steaks. Wichita has been blessed with many unique restaurants but there was only one that had neckties hanging from the rafters.
