Archived Topics

The Big Coffee Cup

Posted By: William Brainard <wbrainard@juno.com>
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2002, at 7:47 a.m.

As a small child I vaguely remember a restaurant in Willimantic which had a huge coffee cup and saucer on the outside of it on the roof. What was the restaurant and where was it located? Could it be my imagination or did they actually have vapor coming out of the cup to make it look like a steaming cup of coffee?? This had to be before 1959-60. 

Posted By: rd <lancva@crosslink.net>
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2002, at 12:54 p.m.

In Response To: The Big Coffee Cup (William Brainard)

You are right about the coffe cup. I can't remember its name but I believe it was on the corner of Main & Walnut st across from the Capitol Theater. I believe the Haddad's owned and operated it. In high school I worked at the First National grocery store and we used go there on Sat am for coffee breaks. 

Posted By: Shemp
Date: Sunday, 23 June 2002, at 12:18 p.m.

In Response To: Re: The Big Coffee Cup (rd)

Okay......I have the name for you folks: It was .......THE LUNCHEONETTE at Main and Walnut Sts. run by Sam and Rose Haddad. Their nephew Louie was the cook (he always wore his chef's toque) and talked non-stop to the customers, sometimes insulting them while they ate his food sitting at the counter...a few feet from his station. A few of Sam's kids worked there too ( can't recall names).

Once Louie said to me and my pop: " Hey, rememeber , my prices are subject to change while you are eating" ( that was his line to razzle the customers)

It had a long counter on the right, and booths in middle and along wall on Walnust St side. Could get a meal for 85 cents like pork chops and mashed spuds, etc. great homemade cherry pie by Nellie.

A good Willi landmark not to be forgotten.

Later it became Surrell's ( Bert and Ann Surrell) Colonial House -- after Welch's burned-dwn in 1964 which they ran after Benny Hochberg got out (his grand daughter was on staff last I knew at the Inn on Woodstock Hill).

Today, you can visit the Victorian Lady-- a great place to eat -- and you get a view of Main St. when you sit in the window table -- you can even see the marquee of the beautiful Capitol that Eastconn and the blockheads plan to destroy...if they are lucky enough.

Shemp Semper Fi '55

1 post missing

Posted By: j
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2002, at 3:53 p.m.

To revisit a previous message: If you visit the historian's page and read about the Capitol, there's a great photo {early '60's} showing that Cup!! We had some good eating on Main St. years ago. Has the receipe for Jim's Coffee Spot's "secret sauce" ever been handed down to another eatery or are we deprived forever? 

Posted By: jimmyb <jbarre44@earthlink.com>
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2002, at 4:38 p.m.

In Response To: The Big Coffee Cup! (j)

jims now there is a topic for conversation....do you remember the great grinders??? and what about marios pastry shop by the capital that had the best brownies.. main street was at one time a great way to spend a saturday afternoon, now it is a desert town ... nothing going on.. very sad to see.. 

1 post mising

Posted By: nhk
Date: Thursday, 15 August 2002, at 8:38 a.m.

In Response To: Re: The Big Coffee Cup! (William Brainard)

The fresh french breads, long and skinny, with the thin crisp crust. And the coPosted By: Mel B. <dkielbas@aol.com>
Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2002, at 5:57 p.m.

In Response To: The Big Coffee Cup! (j)

Hot dog sauces by the ton on Googles.com