OT: Sad day in West Chester, Pennsylvania

Zippylip

A while ago I posted a thread about my favorite hotdog place (a copy is below), a small roadside restaurant that has been in business continuously since 1940, called Jimmy Johns. This past weekend, JJ’s was celebrating its 70th anniversary, offering 70 cent hotdogs, other specials & fun stuff for families. While the family & I were enjoying ourselves at Waldorf, my wife got a text from her sister telling us there was an explosion at Jimmy John’s, & it has burned down.

I cannot tell you what a gut-punch this is to me; not only were the dogs the best, all natural casing, but the history. To aggravate the situation, there used to be a drive-in theater across the street from the restaurant on what, at that time, was a reasonably little travelled road compared to the traffic choked mess it is now. When I think of going to Jimmy John’s to eat, then climbing into the trunk to sneak into the drive-in, being 16, I cannot conceive of having that kind of fun now. The drive-in is long, long gone, but JJ’s remained, taking on even more significance as a result. It was one of the last, if not the last, real time machines I could walk into & appreciate the value of.

The local newspaper suggested they may, or may not, rebuild. I’m not so sure it matters. They may sell the same dogs, which is important, but they will not recapture the essence. The pictures, the old train sets, the ‘x’ factor.

I finally had time to stop & take some shots, very depressing :( :







http://www.eggheadforum.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=760795&catid=1


Not so

Spring Chicken

Real FANS won't let it die.

Spring "Theres Something To Be Said About Nostalgia" Chicken
Spring Texas USA

mad max beyond eggdome

man, i hate when an icon of our past goes (for whatever reason)...i hope they rebuild and retain as much of the past as possible!!

Nature Boy

Dude, that's gut-wrenching. Hope everyone is okay.

I know what it smells like, and I know what it feels like. Really quiet after the last of the fire crew leaves the scene.

I sure hope they are able to hold their chins high, crack the whip on the insurance company, rebuild and carry on the tradition. The people are still around. They can do it!

Best wishes and warm thoughts to the owners and patrons alike.

Chris

Nature Boy

Yo Max
Was just in the new Eastern Market in DC for the first time since the rebuild. WOW!! Back from the ashes with the same feel, but much better and brighter. And from what I hear, much cooler in the summer.

Wishing the same for Jimmy John's!
Chris

mad max beyond eggdome

yeah, same look and feel, only better ...the guys that work there love it!!!

Florida Grillin Girl

That is a shame. I think I was standing near you when you got that text. Hopefully the neighborhood will rally and he will be able to rebuild.

Faith

Little Steven

Marc,

That is sad buddy! Landmarks and historical sites get lost and you can't replace them.

Steve

Hoss

That's awful! :( Our prayers to the owners and employees and also the customers.I hope no one was injured.

ranger ray

... i know what you mean.... we have a couple of similar cultural landmarks here in NEPA( hot dog joints.... generally referred to as "texas lunch or coney island hotdogs)........someone needs to get in touch with tony bourdain to do a spot on the northeast pa corridor.... halupkis... haluski, kelbo...( ref. coalspeak.com) if you want a taste of the local culture.... it's a dictionary of the local slang( when you read it ... you'll pee you pants laughing) yes people around here do actually talk like that( scary once you read it)...lol



..... pierogies(11 million per day are produced in shenandoah pa... by "mrs t's".....amazing eh? .... they have reached all 50 states.... but the other ethnic foods here in nepa... which are overlooked by the bulk of society... such as "old forge style pizza" the correct word for it is "pitza).... you'll still see em in old bars( philly folks call 'em "tap rooms" with signs for beer / pitz......

2Fategghead

Marc, Thats sad. I hope no one got hurt. And I hope they rebuild that way after they reopen you can go in there and tell all those young whippersnappers what it was like in the old days. Tim

Ricklesss

That's definitely a bummer of a deal, but as someone already mentioned if nobody got hurt, it could have been worse.
I'll bet since 1940 they've had their share of ups and downs. If they rebuild and their loyal fans continue to stand by them, it will be just another great story; another chapter in their long history.
I for one, do hope they re-build and continue on.
Please let us know how it works out..

tjv

nothing worse than a local landmark getting nailed like that.....just no telling how many families, friends and lives were touched by a simple hot dog over the years.......

we had a bbq place like that.....building seemed no bigger than a shoe box, no real booths just a bunch of ratty ole chairs. Front door was a screen door that hung at an angle. The pit was right behind the serving counter. The smoking wood was stacked along side the wood frame exterior. The place was so ratty, not sure the local rodents would even want to call it home. One day open for business as usual, next day gone.....never reopened, no insurance......dang I miss that place.

t