Picturing the Past 146: The Only Place revisited

Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at 3:33 PM

The dining room of The Only Place restaurant in the 1970s. (T-G file photo)

Recognize this restaurant?

Here's the dining room of The Only Place in Shelbyville from the 1970s. I posted a photo of the outside of this restaurant a while back, sometime last year, I think. It was on Madison Street where Dr. Alcorn's office is now.

And for some reason what stuck out to me is that none of the tables have ashtrays in a time when no one questioned smoking in restaurants. Maybe you had to ask. I've got a photo of the dining room of Gondola Steak House from the same period and all the tables had ashtrays.

That also brings up a question: If you could bring back any restaurant from Shelbyville's past, which would it be? The old Pope's Cafe? The Bridle? The list could go on and on.

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

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Bud's down South Main by Potts Ford dealership. Great catfish my Dad and I supplied from Wheeler and Pickwick Dam.

-- Posted by henrys on Fri, Feb 17, 2012, at 9:35 PM

Many may not remember it, but Popeyes Place on Depot St next to the old Model Laundry building had the best burgers I have ever tasted in all my years.

-- Posted by cherokee2 on Thu, Feb 16, 2012, at 12:19 PM

Caperton's....Soda Fountain

-- Posted by steadyeddie on Thu, Feb 16, 2012, at 1:00 AM

I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but it was located just off the square in front of the old stockyard. Best burger and fries you could ever hope to eat. That or the old Pope's Cafe.

-- Posted by Tim Lokey on Wed, Feb 15, 2012, at 11:47 PM

The Merry-Go-Round had the best BBQ sandwiches! Just recreate the recipe somewhere!!!!

-- Posted by caligal on Wed, Feb 15, 2012, at 4:44 PM

Honeyland; not the finest in town but I remember the hamburgers being very good as a child.

-- Posted by Harleytodd on Wed, Feb 15, 2012, at 12:14 PM

The Saddle was one of my favorites among several from the past. Bud's and the Rebel Maid and the Bridle also come to mind. The Dixie Hotel had great home cooked food as well.

-- Posted by volfanatic on Wed, Feb 15, 2012, at 10:22 AM

The Tea Room in the basement of the Gunter Building,and the dining room at the Dixie Hotel.Home cooking at its best.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Tue, Feb 14, 2012, at 10:42 PM

Ray's Drive In

Joe Boys

The Rebel Maid

-- Posted by decorate1956 on Tue, Feb 14, 2012, at 7:29 PM

Gondola would be the restaurant that I would like to bring back. Never have found any pizza anywhere that holds a light to theirs.

-- Posted by justwanaknow on Tue, Feb 14, 2012, at 4:27 PM