Picturing the Past 123: The Only Place

Posted Sunday, August 7, 2011, at 9:55 PM

The Only Place restaurant as it appeared in 1974 on Madison Street. (T-G File Photo)

Remember The Only Place restaurant? It was located on Madison Street in 1974 in what I think is today's heavily-remodeled building housing Dr. Will Alcorn's dental office.

This is the same location where the old Mr. Burger drive-in was before burning in the early 1970s. If I'm recalling correctly, the original Mr. Burger burned and was replaced by this building, which was also Mr. Burger but without the drive-in portion. Seems like Mr. Burger's owner sold the restaurant a short time after the rebuild.

And it seems to me that The Only Place may have been moved to several places in the 1970s and 1980s. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Comments
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I'm sure you are correct on this David and if I'm not mistaken this building later housed the Open Gate or Saddle Gate restaurant. (Not sure on the name) I also think there was a small bar called the Honeyland located to the left of this building.

-- Posted by Tim Lokey on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 4:55 AM

Are you sure this is not the old Buds drive in building?

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 11:13 AM

It's not Bud's, which was further up the street in the area of today's Celebration Drive.

-- Posted by David Melson on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 11:45 AM

David, If you have a photo of the old Mr. Burger restaurant, please post it. Would love to see it.

-- Posted by lostinthe60s on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 2:10 PM

lostinthe60s you can find the picture in David's archives. It is Picturing the Past 10: Meet Mr. Burger.

-- Posted by leeiii on Mon, Aug 8, 2011, at 3:23 PM

THIS WAS OWNED BY ROBERT TAYLOR WHO OWNED TAYLORS TRAILER PARK WHICH IS JUST PAST DREMC. HE LIVED IN THE HOUSE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE PARK

-- Posted by bodyshop on Tue, Aug 9, 2011, at 12:27 PM

Honeyland was located about where Kenneth Wessner's car lot is on Madison.

-- Posted by walrite on Wed, Aug 10, 2011, at 12:03 PM

I believe Bud and Ruth Watley owned the restaurant in this building and it was called the Open Gate. Ruth worked for the Times Gazette for years and I am sure she could set us straight on this. She has since retired and remarried. Good Luck to her.

-- Posted by Poksalad on Mon, Aug 15, 2011, at 1:58 PM

David Melson

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David Melson is a copy editor and staff writer for the Times-Gazette.

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