Burger Chef on Bluffton Road

Burger Chef 1970's
Originally uploaded by kristinafh

This isn't the picture of THAT Burger Chef but still, it looks remarkably like the one that we used to visit from time to time.

I loved the "fun meals" and the works bar was awesome. It was one of the earliest times in my life that I was allowed to make decisions for myself - i.e. what to put on my burger and what I could leave off. I was always a fan of tomatoes - lots of them. Not so much on the pickles or lettuce. Mustard was always left off but ketchup and mayo were two that were always found on the bun side that didn't face the cheese.

We only seemed to visit the Burger Chef at the Bluffton Road location - maybe because that's the one we lived closest to. I know that there were other ones located in the city - one on Coldwater Road and one on East State Street. Maybe there were other locations too...those are just the ones I remember.

If you're a fan of Burger Chef - you've got to check out this guy's website - http://burgerchef.webs.com/8memorbilliapics.htm

He has TONS of pictures and I had a blast looking through all of the old stuff.

More Southside Pictures - Blast from the Past

Lots of awesome responses yesterday! I found some more gems from the south side of Fort Wayne - enjoy!

Burger Chef with KMart's auto center peeking out...



Fabric World with KMart's main store to the right...



I THINK - Ponderosa

AYR-WAY'S South Location

AYR-WAY'S South Location
Originally uploaded by kristinafh

John Good has been posting pictures from this side of town (ala now and then) which made me nostalgic and thus, led me to the CONTENTdm ACPL database. I was in search of my south side of Fort Wayne - the one I used to know.

I found this picture and at first - I was like neat! Ayr-Way's! But then, I started zooming in on the different areas of the picture and that's when I saw all of the other gems.

Starting from left to right.

1) Kmart (probably their garden shop)



2) This looks like a Ponderosa!



3) A church? A cemetery? I don't remember this at all.



4) Burger Chef (I miss the works bar!)



So then, I had to go out to Microsoft Maps and see what the area looks like today.

1) Empty Building - what used to be Ayr-Way's. Sadness. Church and cemetery seems to still be intact.



2) Not Burger Chef. Sadness. Ponderosa? Not sure. Doesn't look like it. Not sure what that other building is. That's what I think had the KMART sign on it in the 1970's picture.



It's just really sad to me that first, downtown was shred to bits and then the south side of town followed suit.

Sigh.

A Little Fort Wayne Nostalgia

It's always great to come across these gems....Hope they bring a smile to your face.

Bring It Back - Please (The List)

Here's my random list - of places and things - that need to be resurrected in the Fort.

Holiday Theater
Re-build it. We will come.


Papa Suzetti's
The family (minus their patriarch R.I.P) is still around. So are some of their employees. Nobody makes that pasta and sauces like these folks.


A&W Root Beer Stand
We all need to pull into one - order a dog and a mug - sit in our cars and watch the 'hops - come and go and come and go and come and go


Municipal Beach Swimming Area
Okay, so maybe it's not good to be swimming in the river - but golly gee - wouldn't it be cool to have a beach again?!


New City Market
Awesome. We could park our bikes here instead of our horses.


The Alt Heidelberg Hotel and Restaurant
Just because it looks like nothing else in the Fort.


The Lyric Theater
Because it looks all majestic and people could sing opera here.


Berghoff Cocktail Lounge
Because it's beautiful. That's what the postcard says. We all must believe what the postcard says.

Wayne Candies
Because sometimes, ya just gotta have a bun.


Burger Chef
Because their kids meal was the original. And it was fun.


The Diner from Murphy's
Because the chairs were fun to sit and twirl on and the waitresses always made you feel damn special.


Dayton Hudson's
And bring back Santa Bear while you're at it.