PP,
You have me confused, Stickman brought up the Shipman's on 15th and Central.
And you are confused, the original wasn't on 15th and Robinson,
C. T.
You are absolutely correct.

Shipman's was on West Reno and S. Robinson.

Was Garlands the one with the (very cool) art deco spire like thing?

I'm quoting myself because I think my post got lost in the back and forth. I found this postcard which is what I was picturing. Is this not the same Garland's you guys are talking about?

http://i.imgur.com/RyUTVH8.jpg

You are absolutely correct.

Shipman's was on West Reno and S. Robinson.

PP,
The original Shipman's was on 1022 S. Robinson (see Ljbab's post number 356), the second one was on 1430 West Reno about a half mile West of Western. Take my word for it or look it up in the DOK archives, the date of the add was November 28th 1982. I would have attached it, but the downloaded/printed version was a lousy copy for some reason.
C. T.

I'm quoting myself because I think my post got lost in the back and forth. I found this postcard which is what I was picturing. Is this not the same Garland's you guys are talking about?



Zookeeper,
No, there was a Garland's (see my post number 358) located at 537 S. W. 29th. Now that I have seen your attachment, my memory is returning, I do remember Garland's "Drive-In" restaurant. The one PP was asking about is "Garland's Smorgasbord", which I don't really remember.
C. T.

Zookeeper,
No, there was a Garland's (see my post number 358) located at 537 S. W. 29th. Now that I have seen your attachment, my memory is returning, I do remember Garland's "Drive-In" restaurant. The one PP was asking about is "Garland's Smorgasbord", which I don't really remember.
C. T.

You are right also, the doughnut shop was down the street from Garlands. He does remember Shipman's by the track.......so I bet that is what he meant, no 3rd one, :Smiley173

You are right also, the doughnut shop was down the street from Garlands. He does remember Shipman's by the track.......so I bet that is what he meant, no 3rd one, :Smiley173

Stickman,
Actually, read my second attachment carefully (post number 358) and it appears that Shipman's is in the shopping center at 15th and Central, so it would be the "3rd one". I will try another search and see if I can find a better indicator, like a want ad or an advertisement about the restaurant(s).
C. T.

Did Garland's Drive-In become El Charrito?

Did Garland's Drive-In become El Charrito?

Flintysooner,
I don't know but El Chico was at that location, and since El Chico bought the El Charritos restaurants, you are probably correct. I just don't remember it as El Charrito which was the Mexican restaurant my family always took us to when I was a child.
C. T.

I'm quoting myself because I think my post got lost in the back and forth. I found
this postcard which is what I was picturing. Is this not the same Garland's you guys
are talking about?

http://i.imgur.com/RyUTVH8.jpg
The one I'm talking about was on S.W. 29th near S. Indiana and on the
north side of the street.

Cool find!

Here you go. It's the first want ad in this list.



http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/nostalgia-memories/10197d1423892274-old-restaurants-scan.jpg

Flintysooner,
I don't know but El Chico was at that location, and since El Chico bought the El Charritos restaurants, you are probably correct. I just don't remember it as El Charrito which was the Mexican restaurant my family always took us to when I was a child.
C. T.Yes, It was El Charrito in the late 50s, managed by a classmate of my wife name of Manuel Cruz -- who was a great musician in his own right but better known as the father of Edgar Cruz... We ate there reasonably often and visited with Manny.

Yes, It was El Charrito in the late 50s, managed by a classmate of my wife name of Manuel Cruz -- who was a great musician in his own right but better known as the father of Edgar Cruz... We ate there reasonably often and visited with Manny.

Jim,
I ate there often as a young adult, late 60's, early 70's and it was El Chico. I was away from Oklahoma from 1960 till 1968 and it was probably El Charrito from the time the opened till El Chico bought them and that happened before I returned to OKC.
Thanks,
C. T.

Here you go. It's the first want ad in this list.



Jim,
Thanks, that's what I mentioned in post 358 (the reason I am enjoying "crow" for dinner this week). There was the Garland's at 22nd and Broadway, and some of us were confused because of the two locations, 29th and 22nd.
C. T.

Yes, It was El Charrito in the late 50s, managed by a classmate of my wife name of Manuel Cruz -- who was a great musician in his own right but better known as the father of Edgar Cruz... We ate there reasonably often and visited with Manny.

Jim,
Last question, when did El Chico buy most of the El Chico restaurants? I say most because the one on about 31st and South Robinson (where my family went when I was a child) was an El Charrito for quite a while after the buyout.
C. T.

Seems to me it was the early 60s; I came back from California in February '62 and I think it was still El Chico at that time...

Stickman,
Actually, read my second attachment carefully (post number 358) and it appears that Shipman's is in the shopping center at 15th and Central, so it would be the "3rd one". I will try another search and see if I can find a better indicator, like a want ad or an advertisement about the restaurant(s).
C. T.

Stickman,
No luck, the only Shipman's ad for 15th and Central is the one I posted. I did find something strange, it's "Shipman's Redskin Cafe". Has anybody heard of that. You will have to zoom in on the attachment to read it. It's located at 825 S. W. 29th.
C. T.

Well, I give up on finding a definite answer on the Shipman's at S. W. 15th and Central, but I have found something that verifies that he has four restaurants. It's F. C. Shipman's obituary from the January 1, 1968 DOK. So, I'm assuming that one restaurant was Shipman's Redskin Cafe and the other three were the Shipman's original location at 1022 South Robinson, the second location was 1430 West Reno, and the third was at 15th and South Central.
C. T.10203

Well, I give up on finding a definite answer on the Shipman's at S. W. 15th and
Central, but I have found something that verifies that he has four restaurants. It's F. C.
Shipman's obituary from the January 1, 1968 DOK. So, I'm assuming that one
restaurant was Shipman's Redskin Cafe and the other three were the Shipman's
original location at 1022 South Robinson, the second location was 1430 West Reno,
and the third was at 15th and South Central.
C. T.
Dang, CT, I remember eating at a Shipman's in the very early '80's. I thought it was
on S. Robinson. It may have been S. Central. At any rate, the location on W. Reno
had closed. The location on Central (Robinson) still had all the biscuits you could
eat with a tray of oleo and a bottle of honey.

Dang, CT, I remember eating at a Shipman's in the very early '80's. I thought it was
on S. Robinson. It may have been S. Central. At any rate, the location on W. Reno
had closed. The location on Central (Robinson) still had all the biscuits you could
eat with a tray of oleo and a bottle of honey.

PP,
It was South Robinson, you must have missed my comment "the other three were the Shipman's
original location at 1022 South Robinson, the second location was 1430 West Reno,
and the third was at 15th and South Central.". I think you are just confused as to "where" on South Robinson. It was right on top of the old viaduct (underpass) on the East side of Southwest 10th and Robinson.
C. T.

What was the restaurant that was at SW 24th and Robinson on the east side of the road? I used to go there with my dad for breakfast.

PP,
It was South Robinson, you must have missed my comment "the other three were
the Shipman's original location at 1022 South Robinson, the second location was
1430 West Reno, and the third was at 15th and South Central.". I think you are just
confused as to "where" on South Robinson. It was right on top of the old viaduct
(underpass) on the East side of Southwest 10th and Robinson.
C. T.
My mistake.

What was the restaurant that was at SW 24th and Robinson on the east side of the road? I used to go there with my dad for breakfast.At one time it was an Italian place run by Jake Samara. That would have4 been in the late 50s. Almost the last time I saw Jake, he was running the cash register there. However he did later set up at NE 27th a block east of Lincoln, and I saw him there a few times.

At one time it was an Italian place run by Jake Samara. That would have4 been in the late 50s. Almost the last time I saw Jake, he was running the cash register there. However he did later set up at NE 27th a block east of Lincoln, and I saw him there a few times.

Jim,
Jake still had that place in the late 60's early 70's, but I don't remember him ever serving breakfast. It was mainly pizza and I suspect but don't really remember that he also had other Italian items. Also, wasn't it about a block North of 24th? I was going over there in the next few weeks and I will check it out. By the way, Jake was there after leaving Sussy's at about 39th and Lincoln. I think it was his "next to last" restaurant, from there he opened the Spaghetti Factory in the Paseo.
C. T.

At one time it was an Italian place run by Jake Samara...
I have a copy of a check Jake wrote me in the 90's. The King's Club was the logo.

At one time it was an Italian place run by Jake Samara. That would have4 been in the late 50s. Almost the last time I saw Jake, he was running the cash register there. However he did later set up at NE 27th a block east of Lincoln, and I saw him there a few times.

Jim,
Too quote John Adams (and later, John McCain), "Facts are stubborn things", regarding your comment "That would have4 been in the late 50s.". The grand opening of Sussy's at 2422 S. Robinson was April 21 through April 25,1959 and the last DOK ad I could find was June 20, 1970. Somewhere shortly after that (about February, 1971), Jake was the manager at Sussy's at 3708 N. Lincoln. Jack Sussman was there as well, but he spent most of his time managing the Prow Lounge which was attached to the Sussy's. The thing I was certain of (even though my memory was a little off as to the time frame) the location on S. Robinson was open after July 29, 1968, my discharge date from the Navy. And for about six years I lived in South OKC and we were happy to find a Sussy's on our side of town. I remembered taking my older son (born May, 1968) and I thought we also took our younger son, but he wasn't born till after it closed.
C. T.

CT, all of this bar talk and mention of your older son makes me recall lots of great nights that I spent in bars with him myself, 25 years or so ago. Tell him hi for me.

I ate lunch at Joey's Friday and couldn't remember the name of the Italian restaurant that was there (at about 122nd and May). Can anybody help me?
Thanks,
C. T.

I vaguely remember an Italian place in there . . . the only thing I know for sure is that it wasn't "Custino's."

I remembered it, it was Mama Lucia's Italian Restaurant, owned by David B. Hooten, a very good singer.
C. T.

I remembered it, it was Mama Lucia's Italian Restaurant, owned by David B.
Hooten, a very good singer.
C. T.
I know him as a trumpet player. I've played many gigs with him and have never
heard him sing. I learn something everyday. Next time I'll ask him to render a
selection! LOL

I know him as a trumpet player. I've played many gigs with him and have never
heard him sing. I learn something everyday. Next time I'll ask him to render a
selection! LOL

PP,
I meant to say "musician", not singer. Don't know where my mind was.
C. T.

PP,
I meant to say "musician", not singer. Don't know where my mind was.
C. T.
I believe you were thinking of catfish and steak. But what do I know.

I believe you were thinking of catfish and steak. But what do I know.

PP,
I have a cd with one of his pieces on it, it's one my financial advisor uses for his charity, and I bought it.
C. T.

I just found an ad in a Capitol Hill high school yearbook (1962) for Sussy's Italian Restaurant on 9014 North Western, about 2 blocks South of Britton road. Does anybody remember that. There have been a lot of posts about Sussy's on this thread and I don't remember seeing one about this location.
C. T.

Never knew they were there.

Here is an old ad from their location near the Capitol.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sussys3.jpg

Never knew they were there.

Here is an old ad from their location near the Capitol.



Pete,
Do you have a date or that ad? As I mentioned, the ad I have is from the CHHS Class of 62 which means the ad was probably sold in late 61 or very early 62 and I just noticed another odd fact, It's an add for Sussy's Italian Restaurant, and lists their address as 24th and South robinson. Then it says "Also Visit Sussy's No. 2" at 9014 North Western, so did Sussy's start out on South Robinson? It sure looks like it according to this ad.
C. T.

Circa 1969 I believe.

i've eaten at that lincoln location around 5-7 years ago when it was italiano's... never realized it was a sussy's. you could tell that it was once a really nice place... would have loved to see it in its prime. -M

i've eaten at that lincoln location around 5-7 years ago when it was italiano's... never realized it was a sussy's. you could tell that it was once a really nice place... would have loved to see it in its prime. -M

The inside looks just like something out of Good Fellas doesn't it.

The inside looks just like something out of Good Fellas doesn't it.

for sure!

It was there in '56 or '57; I remember getting a pizza there one night and, as I recall, having a glass or two of Chianti courtesy of the manager. However those glasses of red might have been at another pizza joint out near NE 23 and Bryant...

I got my ham radio ticket in 1957, and I think I already had the station set up in my one-room apartment when we had the take-out pizza from Sussy's in Britton there, come to dig a bit deeper in my memory bank.

did Sussy's start out on South Robinson? It sure looks like it according to this ad.
C. T.Nope, the original Sussy's location was on NE 23 just east of Lincoln, next door to Jake Samara's Club Jamboree. I believe it was originally known as the Golden Lion but quickly became simply Sussy's.

Jake was the money behind Jack and was always closely associated with his operations. The S. Robinson location was much later. The place on Lincoln just north of NE 36 opened around 1962; at the time I lived at 1236 NE 44 and it was our favorite place to go for Italian. Earlier, Sussy had a huge place on Lincoln a few blocks south of NE 50; my best man took my wife and me to dinner there after our marriage, which was February 1958. Jack went to prison for arson after that place burned down.

Sussy is said to have introduced pizza to Oklahoma City, and I can believe it. He sprinkled dried oregano on top before baking, and that distinguished his pies from all the later imitators.

Nope, the original Sussy's location was on NE 23 just east of Lincoln, next door to Jake Samara's Club Jamboree. I believe it was originally known as the Golden Lion but quickly became simply Sussy's.

Jake was the money behind Jack and was always closely associated with his operations. The S. Robinson location was much later. The place on Lincoln just north of NE 36 opened around 1962; at the time I lived at 1236 NE 44 and it was our favorite place to go for Italian. Earlier, Sussy had a huge place on Lincoln a few blocks south of NE 50; my best man took my wife and me to dinner there after our marriage, which was February 1958. Jack went to prison for arson after that place burned down.

Sussy is said to have introduced pizza to Oklahoma City, and I can believe it. He sprinkled dried oregano on top before baking, and that distinguished his pies from all the later imitators.

Jim,
I totally agree with you but the ad I have seems to say something different. The only thing I can think of is that they were locally advertising the 24th and Robinson place and mentioned Sussy's #2 on North Western. I went to Sussy's in the late 50's on 23rd, then the late 60's on Lincoln (both places). If you are interested, I could scan the add and post it.
C. T.

^ That is good stuff Jim. My older sister lived in that area too (Burr Oaks) and when i''d come up to visit we'd have things like Sussy's Pizza, Leo's BBQ, Sleepy Hollow. Nice memories.:)

Ive always wondered what happened to Italianos as they had pretty good food. I think{?} they tried to reopen in Edmond for a bit but eventually vanished.

If I'm wrong may God strike me dead, but iirc, Sussy's was on the east side of Lincoln in the area more recently inhabited by the bank and (the former) Taco Bueno. Italiano's was on the west side, almost to 50th.

An odd numbered address (4801 N Lincoln) is on the west side of the street in OKC. Here is a Google Maps link to that address, with a street view: http://goo.gl/maps/qBn59

That said, I recall deep in the recesses Of my memory perhaps also hearing that it was at one time on the east side (I was foggily envisioning somewhere around Jamil's), so perhaps it existed in both places at different times.

Just backup a little and read Jim Kyle's posts. He is spot-on with his recollections of the Sussy's moves, etc. Including the infamous arson location.

You can still get many of the Sussy's specialties with the original recipes at Nomad II on North May. It even has a touch of that old Sussy's ambiance.

I failed, though, to mention Jack's location at SW 29 and May during the mid-60s, or Jake's purchase of the old Paseo Plunge and converting it into a take-out spaghetti place. Jack Sussman and Jake Samara did more, I think, than anyone else (save possibly Beverly Osborne) to shape the eating and entertainment habits of OKC during the last half of the 20th century... However, the Stevens clan did quite a bit as well -- Dolores, Charcoal Oven, Split-T, Johnnie's, all trace back one way or another to a member of the Stevens family!

An odd numbered address (4801 N Lincoln) is on the west side of the street in OKC. Here is a Google Maps link to that address, with a street view: http://goo.gl/maps/qBn59

That said, I recall deep in the recesses Of my memory perhaps also hearing that it was at one time on the east side (I was foggily envisioning somewhere around Jamil's), so perhaps it existed in both places at different times.

Boscorama and Urbanized,
Sussy's was on the East side, very near 36th. It was in the area that is currently just land between 36th and 38th. I banked at State Capitol Bank which is now Arvest, and ate lunch at Sussy's, and occasionally, (ok, frequently) enjoyed a beer at the Prow Lounge which was also part of the Sussy's restaurant, but it was on the North side and there was no inside path from the restaurant to the bar. Urbanized, He also had "Jack's" in the building that currently is an Italian restaurant just North of 45th. After Jack's it was Tokyo Gardens, a Japanese restaurant.
C. T.

Just backup a little and read Jim Kyle's posts. He is spot-on with his recollections of the Sussy's moves, etc. Including the infamous arson location.

You can still get many of the Sussy's specialties with the original recipes at Nomad II on North May. It even has a touch of that old Sussy's ambiance.

ZooKeeper,
I believe Jack Sussman (Sussy) or possibly Jake Samara opened the Nomad restaurants. The Nomad II is the last remaining restaurant with Sussman/Samara ties. There was a "Sullivans" just East of Meridian on Reno that advertised Sussy's pizza, but I don't know what the connection was, whether Sussman or Samara were involved or the just had the pizza recipes.
C. T.

I failed, though, to mention Jack's location at SW 29 and May during the mid-60s, or Jake's purchase of the old Paseo Plunge and converting it into a take-out spaghetti place. Jack Sussman and Jake Samara did more, I think, than anyone else (save possibly Beverly Osborne) to shape the eating and entertainment habits of OKC during the last half of the 20th century... However, the Stevens clan did quite a bit as well -- Dolores, Charcoal Oven, Split-T, Johnnie's, all trace back one way or another to a member of the Stevens family!

Jim,
That's a new one on me. I was a Southsider and I don't remember the 29th and May location at all. Wasn't the Paseo "Spaghetti Factory" Jake's last restaurant?
C. T.

Yes, the Paseo location was Jake's final effort. When John Belt renovated the building shortly before his death a year or so ago, he found lots of trash left over from that operation.

The 29th and May location didn't last very long. It must have been around 1959 or so but might have been the mid-60s (I was out of OKC from September 1959 to February 1962). I remember being there one night when Jack got into it with a young fellow who looked and acted like the stereotypical hippie, and I thought Jack was going to physically throw the lad out the door. I think it later became a Beverly's; I also think the building itself, an A-frame design nuch like the NW 23 and Classen Beverly's but much smaller, is still there but hasn't been a restaurant for many years.

EDIT--It's just possible that the SW 29 and May spot was Jack's first effort after completing his prison sentence, the more I think about it. He was definitely keeping a pretty low profile at the time and it was nowhere near as elaborate as his original efforts.

The Spaghetti Factory in Paseo was indeed Jake's last restaurant. He worked there all by his lonesome sometimes. He would take your order, prepare the food, change the film reels on old films he would show in the restaurant, bus the tables, give kids a helium balloon on a string, and tell lots of stories. Toward the end, the menu was pretty simple - all you can eat spaghetti for one low price, salad, and a drink.

The 29th and May location didn't last very long. It must have been around 1959 or so but might have been the mid-60s (I was out of OKC from September 1959 to February 1962). I remember being there one night when Jack got into it with a young fellow who looked and acted like the stereotypical hippie, and I thought Jack was going to physically throw the lad out the door. I think it later became a Beverly's; I also think the building itself, an A-frame design nuch like the NW 23 and Classen Beverly's but much smaller, is still there but hasn't been a restaurant for many years.

Yes, it's still there. It's a pawn shop.

Boscorama and Urbanized,
Sussy's was on the East side, very near 36th. It was in the area that is currently just land between 36th and 38th. I banked at State Capitol Bank which is now Arvest, and ate lunch at Sussy's, and occasionally, (ok, frequently) enjoyed a beer at the Prow Lounge which was also part of the Sussy's restaurant, but it was on the North side and there was no inside path from the restaurant to the bar. Urbanized, He also had "Jack's" in the building that currently is an Italian restaurant just North of 45th. After Jack's it was Tokyo Gardens, a Japanese restaurant.
C. T.
C.T., I'm not disagreeing with you, just saying that at some point it also lived on the west side, if you are to believe the address in this ad Pete posted:


Never knew they were there.

Here is an old ad from their location near the Capitol.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sussys3.jpg

ZooKeeper,
There was a "Sullivans" just East of Meridian on Reno that advertised Sussy's pizza, but I don't know what the connection was, whether Sussman or Samara were involved or the just had the pizza recipes.
C. T.

I ate many a pizza downstairs in Sully's when I was going to technical school.... They had a deal where if you bought a drink you got free pizza..... I never had Sussy's so I don't know if they compare but I remember them having a brick oven in Sully's.

C.T., I'm not disagreeing with you, just saying that at some point it also lived on the west side, if you are to believe the address in this ad Pete posted:

Urbanized,
I agree, this is from my post - "Jack's" in the building that currently is an Italian restaurant just North of 45th. After Jack's it was Tokyo Gardens, a Japanese restaurant.". It was on the West side, just North of Lincoln Plaza. I ate there quite a few times. It was more of an Italian restaurant than his the other Sussy's were.
C. T.

Oh, my gosh, yes!! My family went to Han's all the time - loved the place. Tom's sound delicious, but I don't know anything about it. My sis worked at Underwood's BBQ, while I worked at Casa Bonita in 1970.

This is kind of off your topic but it's been awhile...was there a Spagetti Warehouse in the Paseo in the late 70's? I could swear I remember going to an interesting private party there.