Old Restaurants

[Ward]

I just really miss the Harrigans on NWY Expressway/Highway, between MacArthur & Rockwell. The food was very good and the place was very popular.

That place, and Harry Bears.

Times move on, things change.

[Crisko]

Are there any pictures of the restaurants along the SW 74th and Pennsylvania area in the 1970's era? My wife worked at Circus Time in the late 70's and would like to have a picture of the restaurant. Can someone provide a picture? I posted earlier, but I guess nobody remembers it?

[Pete]

Are there any pictures of the restaurants along the SW 74th and Pennsylvania area in the 1970's era? My wife worked at Circus Time in the late 70's and would like to have a picture of the restaurant. Can someone provide a picture? I posted earlier, but I guess nobody remembers it?

I found this photo.

I know the spot at Penn & I-240 used to be a Howard Johnson's.

[Martin]

that's awesome. the building in the background is still there, albeit it's a check cashing place now.

2121 SW 74th St - Google Maps

[Laramie]

Oh man, does that ever bring back memories. When I worked for the OK House, one of my committee chairs loved to eat there. He wore a loud tie so if he spilled on it no one would ever know.

Your post reminded of a place somewhere on the Southside of OKC called Applewoods--can't remember its exact location. The OKC Public School District used this restaurant as well as one in Lincoln Plaza for a number of conferences; so did OKC-AFT (teachers). The food was really delivious--both restaurants had al la carte sections for desserts and fruit dishes.

[MagzOK]

Your post reminded of a place somewhere on the Southside of OKC called Applewoods--can't remember its exact location. The OKC Public School District used this restaurant as well as one in Lincoln Plaza for a number of conferences; so did OKC-AFT (teachers). The food was really delivious--both restaurants had al la carte sections for desserts and fruit dishes.

Applewoods was great!

[Roger S]

Your post reminded of a place somewhere on the Southside of OKC called Applewoods--can't remember its exact location.

Drove by the old Applewood's location at SW 3rd and Meridian the other day and my mouth started watering thinking about those apple fritters.

When I was going to college one of my fellow students was working in the kitchen there. It was a night class and often he would walk in after his shift with a warm bag of those fritters to share with us.... Needless to say he was the most popular student in the class.

I'm pretty sure it was in this building which was red back then...... https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4623...4!8i8192?hl=en

[Jeepnokc]

Drove by the old Applewood's location at SW 3rd and Meridian the other day and my mouth started watering thinking about those apple fritters.

When I was going to college one of my fellow students was working in the kitchen there. It was a night class and often he would walk in after his shift with a warm bag of those fritters to share with us.... Needless to say he was the most popular student in the class.

I'm pretty sure it was in this building which was red back then...... https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4623...4!8i8192?hl=en

We looked at purchasing this property about six months ago but we couldn't get the numbers right. It is all warehouse space inside and they have added elevator to the second floor. It is a lot of sq footage but my thoughts were the footage on the 2nd floor wouldn't bring the same market rental rate as there were no windows except on end and difficult to access to use for storage so the numbers didn't make sense.

[Crisko]

I found this photo.

I know the spot at Penn & I-240 used to be a Howard Johnson's.

Would you say it is just west of Hooter's? Thanks, Pete! Any pictures of the building possibly? Nice to see the sign, at least. Appreciate the effort.

[mugofbeer]

Applewood's was party central back in the old wildcatter oil days in the 80's. Lots of famous people spent lots of money there.

[rizzo]

I just really miss the Harrigans on NWY Expressway/Highway, between MacArthur & Rockwell. The food was very good and the place was very popular.

That place, and Harry Bears.

Times move on, things change.

Harrigans was at Memorial and Penn too. Am I remembering there was one down off 240 also? We went to Harrrigans weekly.

[Roger S]

Harrigans was at Memorial and Penn too. Am I remembering there was one down off 240 also? We went to Harrrigans weekly.

Yes... It was here on this empty lot

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3917...4!8i8192?hl=en

[Bill Robertson]

Kind of old restaurant related. I don't know what made me think of this but when I worked at Casa Bonita in the 70s there was a group of us that always went somewhere after closing on Friday and Saturday nights. Usually we would get a bunch of to go boxes and fill them with a little bit of everything. Then we'd go to Chrystal's or Shakees and trade the employees there for pizza. I wonder if anyone at restaurants does that anymore.

[gjl]

Harrigans was at Memorial and Penn too. Am I remembering there was one down off 240 also? We went to Harrrigans weekly.

That's the one I always went to on Memorial. I loved their fried zucchini. I never ate zucchini before trying it there. Now I eat zucchini all the time.

[baralheia]

Yes... It was here on this empty lot

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3917...4!8i8192?hl=en

Close, but not quite; that's where Pioneer Pies used to be. Harrigans was one building to the west at 2203 SW 74th St, where the HEBCO building stands today. You can see the old Harrigans building if you look back in Google Maps Street View history to the earliest available street view from November 2007. The old Harrigans monument sign was removed sometime after May 2012. Only one location of this chain remains in business today, located in their hometown of Lubbock, TX.

[gjl]

I just really miss the Harrigans on NWY Expressway/Highway, between MacArthur & Rockwell. The food was very good and the place was very popular.

That place, and Harry Bears.

Times move on, things change.

Does any restaurant sell fried peaches now like Harry Bears had? And the dipping sauce?

[ManAboutTown]

I just really miss the Harrigans on NWY Expressway/Highway, between MacArthur & Rockwell. The food was very good and the place was very popular.

That place, and Harry Bears.

Times move on, things change.

As I recall, the menu at Harrigan's was like Charleston's is now, only about 10 years before that restaurant came about. Am I correct?

[Bill Robertson]

As I recall, the menu at Harrigan's was like Charleston's is now, only about 10 years before that restaurant came about. Am I correct?

Pretty similar menus.

[Rover]

As I recall, the menu at Harrigan's was like Charleston's is now, only about 10 years before that restaurant came about. Am I correct?

Charleston's was basically of a chain called Houston's. They had the BEST milk shakes .... super thick (they'd hold the glass upside down, lol.)

[securityinfo]

Kind of old restaurant related. I don't know what made me think of this but when I worked at Casa Bonita in the 70s there was a group of us that always went somewhere after closing on Friday and Saturday nights. Usually we would get a bunch of to go boxes and fill them with a little bit of everything. Then we'd go to Chrystal's or Shakees and trade the employees there for pizza. I wonder if anyone at restaurants does that anymore.

In the early days, there were what were called "Dinner Dollars" at Ted's Cafe... I think Kara came up with the name. It was a popular way to encourage staff in a slightly competitive way, and could also be "traded" to other desired eateries for equal measure :-)

[gjl]

Charleston's was basically of a chain called Houston's. They had the BEST milk shakes .... super thick (they'd hold the glass upside down, lol.)

Harry Bears did that too.

[mugofbeer]

Probably was an expensive "five-dallah shake" in those days.

[Rover]

Whatever it cost, it was worth it.

[rayvaflav]

Just came across this 30 year old memento in my tool box. Loved the lunch "hot line".

[Okigator]

Does anyone remember the name of the Mexican restaurant on the East side of Meridian, just north of I-40. I believe it was owned by Howard Johnson's, and was in the same building. My memory is not perfect, but I think it only lasted a year or two. I think it had a name based on the menu. They had a "build your own" fajita bar.

One thing I'm sure of, there was a Gilligan's Island pinball machine, so it was probably no earlier than 1991.