If so, share any memories you've got please. I'm about to post something about the chain at www.okchistory.com

I went to the one on SW 59th and Villa in the '60s.

During a promo event they had a band playing on a stage built in the parking lot. It started raining and the lead singer got electrocuted by the microphone stand. It didn't kill him, but he wasn't able to sing anymore.

I went to the one on S.W.59th and Villa and the one in Madill. Loved em.

Any recollection as to when the restaurants disappeared? What, if anything, made them different from other fast food restaurants?

I wish there was some history on Mr. Swiss. (Can't find any) I think the diff. at the time period was that they had tomatoes, lettuce and onion when the others had none other than the ma & pa places and maybe the unique bldg..

S.W. 33 and Robinson. There was also one just south of S.W. 29 and Penn. Just off the southeast corner.

Only place I know that ever really had tutti-fruti ice cream. Man! That was some nasty stuff.

Took my girlfriend (Now my wife) to both of them on 29th and Penn and on 59th and Villa....I didn't like their burgers but like PapaOu said they had some good Ice Cream and their Milk Shakes were Great. They were somewhat "cheesy" if my memory serves me right. The buildings were kind of different but they were both trimmed in Blue....Remember that much....Late 70's they were gone....The one on 29th and Penn became a Mexican food place for a while then they tore it down....

Took my girlfriend (Now my wife) to both of them on 29th and Penn and on 59th and Villa....I didn't like their burgers but like PapaOu said they had some good Ice Cream and their Milk Shakes were Great. They were somewhat "cheesy" if my memory serves me right. The buildings were kind of different but they were both trimmed in Blue....Remember that much....Late 70's they were gone....The one on 29th and Penn became a Mexican food place for a while then they tore it down....

The bldg. on 33rd and Robinson is still there. I don't think it has occupied in twenty or more years. Think it is still blue. They were just an A-frame bldg. I know that one better because it is across the street from the former El Charitto.

I'm not very sure about my recollections anymore.

It seems to me that there may have been one about N W 50th and Portland that later became Swiss Cleaners. You can see the A-frame building still.

I vaguely remember the Mr. Swiss sign - found an image of it:
Mr. Swiss (http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/aframeswiss.html)

Same site says it was an Oklahoma City chain.

The reason I remember that location is that my grandparents lived nearby for a while but that would have been in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

I vaguely remember the Mr. Swiss sign - found an image of it:
Mr. Swiss (http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/aframeswiss.html)

Thanks for finding that link! Seeing those old A-frame Mr. Swiss buildings sure brought back a bunch of memories.



http://www.agilitynut.com/07/3/mrswiss3.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2495/3894240471_44807709f1.jpg


http://www.agilitynut.com/07/3/mrswiss4.jpg

There was one in Poteau in the 70's, but I don't recall when it closed.. Ice cream was good, food too as I recall. Hilers, nice local folks, owned that shoppe. We were under under 6-8G population back then, with multiple ice cream and burger joints located from one end of town to the other. As to why it went down and others, I don't recall. It had a solid location on the main road, and seemed packed during b-ball season, being located across from the town parks at that time.

I'm not very sure about my recollections anymore.

It seems to me that there may have been one about N W 50th and Portland that later became Swiss Cleaners. You can see the A-frame building still.

I vaguely remember the Mr. Swiss sign - found an image of it:
Mr. Swiss (http://www.agilitynut.com/eateries/aframeswiss.html)

Same site says it was an Oklahoma City chain.

The reason I remember that location is that my grandparents lived nearby for a while but that would have been in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
It was just west of Portland, it was a fried pie place 10 or so years ago.

Boy this brings back some memories, There was a Mr Swiss at Candlestick Park in Jackson, MS. It was built on the site of the Dog n Suds that was destroyed in the infamous tornado of 1966 (which I witnessed as well). I remembered going there on many occasions but can't remember what the specialty was. There were not many fast food places in South jackson at the time. Only a KFC and a Krystal during those years, so maybe it was because it was different

SW 29 and penn is still standing - it's a used car lot now

it appears we have five of these buildings still standing.

Here's another question related to this mystery: can anyone tell me where 1111 E Commerce might be located?

Here's another question related to this mystery: can anyone tell me where 1111 E Commerce might be located?

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Division of OKC is Santa Fe.....1111 would be east of Which would be east of Robinson and that address is probably somewhere around Central....East of the railroad tracks....Commerce was also 25th st. in the capitol hill area.....Carltonskeeper.....Help me out here you know that part of OKC like the back of your hand....

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Division of OKC is Santa Fe.....1111 would be east of Which would be east of Robinson and that address is probably somewhere around Central....East of the railroad tracks....Commerce was also 25th st. in the capitol hill area.....Carltonskeeper.....Help me out here you know that part of OKC like the back of your hand....

Problem is..........

Commerce extends one block east of Robinson and then becomes 25th st.

What are you searching for?

The 1100 block would be close to High.

You are right Papa:........I get that area confused. I don't know what building he is looking for and he is Off Line right now....But we've (you) got him pretty close...

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Division of OKC is Santa Fe.....1111 would be east of Which would be east of Robinson and that address is probably somewhere around Central....East of the railroad tracks....Commerce was also 25th st. in the capitol hill area.....Carltonskeeper.....Help me out here you know that part of OKC like the back of your hand....
1111 West Commerce is a couple of blocks East of Coit's in Capitol Hill, because like you said, 25th was always considered Commerce. I don't believe there is or was a 1111 East Commerce!! That's not right either because West of Western is the 1100 block West! I lived @ 1024 S.W. 34th and that was 2 houses east of Douglas...

1111 West Commerce is a couple of blocks East of Coit's in Capitol Hill, because like you said, 25th was always considered Commerce. I don't believe there is or was a 1111 East Commerce!! That's not right either because West of Western is the 1100 block West! I lived @ 1024 S.W. 34th and that was 2 houses east of Douglas...

Google maps says its Scott's Cleaner at 1111 SE 25. There was no street view, though.

There was one in Poteau in the 70's, but I don't recall when it closed.. Ice cream was good, food too as I recall. Hilers, nice local folks, owned that shoppe. We were under under 6-8G population back then, with multiple ice cream and burger joints located from one end of town to the other. As to why it went down and others, I don't recall. It had a solid location on the main road, and seemed packed during b-ball season, being located across from the town parks at that time.

When I was around 9--11, I spent most of my summers near Poteau, my grand pareants lived in Howe. At least once a week we would go to Mr. Swiss for ice cream, sure miss those days. (and the ice cream)

Google maps says its Scott's Cleaner at 1111 SE 25. There was no street view, though.

but no 1111 Commerce. There is no such address east or west.

but no 1111 Commerce. There is no such address east or west.

Correctamundo!

Ah, and that's my problem. I can't find any such address, and my southside friends say this address doesn't exist... and yet... it was listed repeatedly in stories and SEC filings involving Mr. Swiss.

Ah, and that's my problem. I can't find any such address, and my southside friends say this address doesn't exist... and yet... it was listed repeatedly in stories and SEC filings involving Mr. Swiss.

I grew up and still live in the Capitol Hill area. The nearest Mr Swiss was the one on 33rd and Robinson. They did not last long at all. Only thing close on the SE area would have been the HI 25 Drive in.

Is there ANY chance at ALL that it means in Dallas?

Nope. Zero. The address belonged first to an Oklahoma City construction company, and when its owner died, his son used the property as the headquarters for Mr. Swiss.

OK, Capitol Hill folks - here's another question: do any of you know or remember a Don Hervey?

OK, Capitol Hill folks - here's another question: do any of you know or remember a Don Hervey?

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Knew his brother Bob.....OKC police officer....

Either of them still with us?

Nope. Zero. The address belonged first to an Oklahoma City construction company, and when its owner died, his son used the property as the headquarters for Mr. Swiss.

So was it where Scott's Cleaners is now? If not, where?

I don't think so, but I'll have to drive out there. County Assessor records indicate that property was built in 1978, but I'll have to do more digging...

It is indeed 1111 SE 25th!
So, how do I know this? My first clue was a major fire, an arson, that hit this property in 1990. That would explain why assessor records don't indicate any buildings built prior to 1978 on the property.
My second hint, the one that clinched it, however, was a neighbor. H. Waggoner & Co. placed a classified ad in 1962 that listed their address as 1611 E Commerce. That address, like 1111 E Commerce, no longer appears to exist. So what happens if I look up 1611 SE 25 today? It belongs to Wagonner & Co., still in the pump and pipe supply business. And the photos for Wagonner show buildings that definitely have been around for a half century. So now we know where Mr. Swiss was located.
Ding, ding, ding.

I grew up and still live in the Capitol Hill area. The nearest Mr Swiss was the one on 33rd and Robinson. They did not last long at all. Only thing close on the SE area would have been the HI 25 Drive in.
I would imagine that the location Steve is mentioning was probably an office and not a restaurant location since it was listed in SEC filings.

Other interesting offerings on that SEC page (http://www.sec.gov/news/digest/1968/dig110168.pdf) as well. An offering for the Seattle SuperSonics Corporation is included in there.

I know that especially down here that many streets have changed names or have been referred to as one name when it never was officially called by that name, some still refer to Sixth Street in Downtown Austin as Pecan Street....but then it seems almost every road in Texas has three names. I remember seeing an old plat map one time that still had Hefner Road listed as N 108th.

It is indeed 1111 SE 25th!
So, how do I know this? My first clue was a major fire, an arson, that hit this property in 1990. That would explain why assessor records don't indicate any buildings built prior to 1978 on the property.
My second hint, the one that clinched it, however, was a neighbor. H. Waggoner & Co. placed a classified ad in 1962 that listed their address as 1611 E Commerce. That address, like 1111 E Commerce, no longer appears to exist. So what happens if I look up 1611 SE 25 today? It belongs to Wagonner & Co., still in the pump and pipe supply business. And the photos for Wagonner show buildings that definitely have been around for a half century. So now we know where Mr. Swiss was located.
Ding, ding, ding.
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Steve:...at one time (not too long ago) on the N. E. Corner of 25th/Commerce and High there was a Drive-Inn Restaurant there. I was in that area of town last week and noticed that the Drive-Inn had been torn down. That May be the spot you are looking for...

I'm feeling very, very good that 1111 E Commerce is 1111 SE 25. As for 25th and Commerce... I'll have to look into that. My upcoming post on Mr. Swiss will be a lot of fun.

I'm feeling very, very good that 1111 E Commerce is 1111 SE 25. As for 25th and Commerce... I'll have to look into that. My upcoming post on Mr. Swiss will be a lot of fun.
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Steve:....there was a lot of activity in that part of town in the 50's and 60's. It's a pretty rough and tough area now....

I drove by 1111 SE 25th. The company there is Magic Services and is associated with Scott Cleaners.

Magic Services and Scott Cleaners Intro (http://www.magicservicesinc.com/)

So here's what I found out.... go to www.okchistory.com

The "High 25 Drive Inn" you mention was owned by a good friend of our family which we ate at every Sunday after Church!! It was at S.E. 25th and High, the N.E. corner just as Gen/64 said! This was back in the late fifties and the the man's name was Buck Brown (now deceased). I ate there a couple of years ago and it was very good and had stayed very busy all these years..............Are you sure it's gone???????????????

The "High 25 Drive Inn" you mention was owned by a good friend of our family which we ate at every Sunday after Church!! It was at S.E. 25th and High, the N.E. corner just as Gen/64 said! This was back in the late fifties and the the man's name was Buck Brown (now deceased). I ate there a couple of years ago and it was very good and had stayed very busy all these years..............Are you sure it's gone???????????????
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Hey, that's where I was taking you for lunch this week. it's gone....

But, does any of this confirm what was located at 1111 E. Commerce if that address existed? Not being a smart ***** but what have you learned about 1111 E. Commerce???? ??????????????????????????????????????????

But, does any of this confirm what was located at 1111 E. Commerce if that address existed? Not being a smart ***** but what have you learned about 1111 E. Commerce???? ??????????????????????????????????????????

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Read the story on the link......Oh yeah, call me tomorrow if you get time....chasing old Trigger for the past couple of days...going to bed...

The "High 25 Drive Inn" you mention was owned by a good friend of our family which we ate at every Sunday after Church!! It was at S.E. 25th and High, the N.E. corner just as Gen/64 said! This was back in the late fifties and the the man's name was Buck Brown (now deceased). I ate there a couple of years ago and it was very good and had stayed very busy all these years..............Are you sure it's gone???????????????

Building has been demolished. It's amazing how long it lasted after I35 was constructed.

I see that Steve got his article at OkcHistory.com put together: http://www.okchistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=275:whatever-happened-to-mr-swiss&catid=42:places&Itemid=78 ... good research job with help from several OkcTalkers (not me, I was never in one and I never gave Mr. Swiss any thought before this thread got started). Seems from his article that Mr. Swiss had a heck of a start ... another too bad, so sad kinda deal. It's a good read.

I see that Steve got his article at OkcHistory.com put together: Whatever Happened to Mr. Swiss? (http://www.okchistory.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=275:whatever-happened-to-mr-swiss&catid=42:places&Itemid=78) ... good research job with help from several OkcTalkers (not me, I was never in one and I never gave Mr. Swiss any thought before this thread got started). Seems from his article that Mr. Swiss had a heck of a start ... another too bad, so sad kinda deal. It's a good read.

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Doug: Here's an Urban Legend for you and your "Diggers"......What do YOU know about "The Twilight Zone"??? This is an area located on the Northside of OKC....

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Doug: Here's an Urban Legend for you and your "Diggers"......What do YOU know about "The Twilight Zone"??? This is an area located on the Northside of OKC....
Never heard of it. You've educated me before ... the floor is yours (but it might be better to start a new thread ... this one's about Steve's research).

Carey Place... something we'll definitely want to "dig" into. Very cool street near OCU just north of Gatewood. Clearly some southsiders must have crossed the tracks at some point to check it out.

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Doug: Here's an Urban Legend for you and your "Diggers"......What do YOU know about "The Twilight Zone"??? This is an area located on the Northside of OKC....

What's this got to do with Mr. Swiss?:ot:

Couldn't pass up the chance.

It has nothing to do with it. And since it's a thread started by me, I just want to point out that I have no problem with my dearly departed friend Generals64 going off course.

Sorry:......I just wanted to get Steve and Doug's attention.....Carey Place is rather unique and EVERYONE on this thread has been there at least once I'm sure.....I know, I'll start a thread about the "Twilignt Zone".....

I can guarantee you there was never a Mr. Swiss on Carey Place or the Twilight Zone. (LOL)

I can guarantee you there was never a Mr. Swiss on Carey Place or the Twilight Zone. (LOL)

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Yeah, he lived on the southeast corner with Mrs. Swiss and the twin boys Alf and Alps.....Don't you remember????

Come to think of it, Carey Place never intersected Commerce Street, either.

Come to think of it, Carey Place never intersected Commerce Street, either.

Yes it did. Carey Place intersected Commerce at about 1111 Commerce.:tiphat:

Yes it did. Carey Place intersected Commerce at about 1111 Commerce.:tiphat:
Yeah, EAST Commerce!

I've admired Carey Place since I've lived here permanently (1970) and before during school at OU -- very unique area of Gatewood. But I never heard it referred to as the Twilight Zone before. Why was that?

On edit: Whoops! I see you did start a new thread. I'll repost there.

IF you take a look at the City directory for 1969 that is on line here, (Polk351-400) page 355, lists 1111 E. Commerce:

KRAPFF Co. Inc. Investments
Mr. Swiss of America Inc. Ice Cream
Oklahoma Ventures INC INV
United Investment Corp.

All at that address.