Picturing the Past 143: Gondola Steak & Pizza

Posted Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 2:17 PM

Gondola Steak & Pizza House as it looked in 1973. (T-G file photo)

We get some of our best responses here to photos of former Shelbyville businesses.

Remember Gondola Steak & Pizza House (or was it Pizza & Steak?) Here it is in the 1970s.

As usual, go here for the big view.

Many of you have probably already recognized this as what is today Chef Chen's on Madison Street. I'm thinking Gondola was the first restaurant in that building.

How many can remember what was to the immediate west and east of that building? Hint: It wasn't actually a business in one direction.

Interesting cars in the photo, too. Someone had a late-model Vette; that's a 1970-72 model, judging by the fender vents. Sure wish this photo was in color. When's the last time you saw a Corvette with whitewall tires like this one had?

And check out the '64 Impala with rear end jacked up. Remember when it seemed like every Camaro or Mustang had oversized rear tires? Pretty nice motorcycles by the front door, too.

Picturing the Past is featured each Tuesday in this blog. Reader contributions are welcome.

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

Was Cook's One-Stop Market immediately to the east?

-- Posted by bomelson on Tue, Jan 24, 2012, at 2:44 PM

Close. There was (and is) one building in between.

-- Posted by David Melson on Tue, Jan 24, 2012, at 2:46 PM

Even though I was too young, I think it was a liquor store--was it Economy Liquors between Cook's One-Stop Market and Gondola Pizza?

I am still in search of the perfect pizza like Gondola served. It was oh so thin, cut into little squares and a bit on the greasy side (that must be where all that flavor came from). If anyone remembers Gondola Pizza and knows where I can get a very similar comparable tasting please please pass along that info to me.

-- Posted by justwanaknow on Tue, Jan 24, 2012, at 9:40 PM

Next door was Economy Liquors, owned by Heyward Sudberry and Joyce Lamb. It opened I think in 1971.

-- Posted by cordell on Wed, Jan 25, 2012, at 6:49 AM

I remember this place well. They had the best pizza around. Do you know who owned it? I no longer live in Shelbyville. I really enjoy your blog as it takes me back to a time that I truly cherish.

-- Posted by challenger on Wed, Jan 25, 2012, at 8:24 AM

Economy Liquors is right. A quick check of online real estate records shows that building, now Yoes Brothers Barber Shop, was built in 1969. Cook's One Stop Market, now Pop-A-Top, is the next building up. To the north of the restaurant, on the other side of the creek, was a junkyard which has since been cleaned up.

-- Posted by David Melson on Wed, Jan 25, 2012, at 12:24 PM

David, Was a restaurant by the name of the China Wall or something like that ever in this building?

-- Posted by leeiii on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 7:04 AM

leeiii,not David but the restaurant you reference was named Great Wall Restaurant.

-- Posted by ilikeoldsongs on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 9:24 AM

For those of you who want that old world taste, it is worth the drive to Manchester on Hwy 55 to the Gondola.I think it is better than what we had here.Try the lunch buffet,it has pizza and all the Italian greats.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 10:10 AM

Oh by the way justwanaknow it still has that good old grease from all the cheese on the pizza.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 10:11 AM

I was about to say that I thought they had a Gondola in Manchester but wasn't for sure if was the exact same one . . . I will have to try it sometime myself. But yeah, I never knew that we had a Gondola here in Shelbyville.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 12:27 PM

There is also a Gondola in Tullahoma,but it is not as good as Manchester.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 3:56 PM

I just called my friend who is a long time resident of Manchester and she is not aware of a Gondola in Manchester, but she did mention the Gondola in Tullahoma on Highway 55.

-- Posted by justwanaknow on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 8:29 PM

Yeah, the one is Tullahoma has been there for a long time. I remember it as a kid when going back and forth to Sparta but have never ate there.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Jan 26, 2012, at 10:03 PM

Well when you get old you forget.I did mean Tullahoma,it is past the AEDC road.The one I said not to go to is McMinnville.When you get old you will understand.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Fri, Jan 27, 2012, at 5:06 PM

It's ok mytaxesaremine . . . I was confused too and thought the McMinnville one was in Manchester(and I am not old). I grew up some in Sparta but was also born and raised some in Shelbyville so I have been back and forth a lot throught those areas.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Sat, Jan 28, 2012, at 11:27 PM

Gondolier in Murfreesboro has PHENOMENAL pizza (and very reasonably priced) Located on Broad St, where the Shoney's was once located. The ingredients are fresh and the dough is obviously homemade.

Never had a chance to dine at the Gondola in Shelbyville, but the folks I have asked said it was the best around.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Mon, Jan 30, 2012, at 7:51 PM

That was such a long time ago, but for reason I thought that building was the old Parthenon restaurant and when it closed there was a Chinese one that took it's place. Like I say, it was a long time ago and I may be wrong. Anyone can correct me if they want to.

-- Posted by Number25 on Thu, Mar 15, 2012, at 2:29 PM

David Melson

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

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

Hot topics

Picturing the Past 184: Hootenanny lineup
(6 ~ 6:22 PM, May 19)

Picturing the Past 92: Stopping by Parks-Belk
(20 ~ 6:57 PM, May 14)

"Ag-gag" bill full of problems
(1 ~ 9:26 PM, May 13)

Picturing the Past 183: Square in 1965
(10 ~ 11:09 AM, May 7)

Speeding drivers on the loose
(8 ~ 10:06 PM, Apr 27)

Home