I am taking a moment to stray from our regularly scheduled programming (ie- wine and alcohol, and drinking said substances) to bring you a little piece of where I come from. On my way to Italy, I made a pit-stop in Kentucky to relax at home and see the fam. When I come home, I make it a point to visit ALL of my favorite childhood dining destinations… as any good foodie would do, naturally. One of those places happens to be owned by my family. And they’ve owned it since 1957.
This is the original sign my grandfather installed. As you can tell, he is a simple, straightforward kind of guy. He wanted customers and passerbys to know what they could buy there and for how much. As easy as that. And yes, you can actually get a hamburger for 84 cents!
Ahhh…my dear beloved Coinometer. Like the sign on the roof, it too has been around since the beginning. It makes giving change a cinch and as a kid working the register, I didn’t have to count as much…and it was fun to push the typewriter-like buttons. It still gives half dollar coins too! It is super exciting getting a half dollar, trust me.
I devoured my burger, then had my “dessert” by way of fries dipped into my strawberry shake. Just maybe one of my favorite flavor combinations ever. The girls had begun peeling and slicing up the onions in the back, which is usually my cue to leave as the tear production becomes a little too much to handle. Off I went! But before heading back home, I decided to take a bit of a drive. With windows down, rolling through the back roads…I can’t believe I forgot how beautiful this little part of the world is.
“A few more days til we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.”
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Just saw the photos of Burger Shakes and what a great trip down memory lane; I live much closer now, in Louisville, but well do I remember years of getting off a plane from San Francisco and dashing home with a stop by Uncle Joe’s (AKA Grandpa!) and Doc Sam’s Burger Shakes for my fave-just a burger, no cheese, (so it had a folded flap not a twisted one!!), love the onions and mustard!, the best fries anywhere and a chocolate shake. Your grandpa said you were just 2 or 3 and using the coin changer to give change, what a doll you were then and how much you have grown up. I know you will enjoy your time in Italy; Your cousin David will be visiting while you are there as well, perhaps you will run into each other?
whit, these photos make me homesick! great little post, can’t wait for the Italy updates!
Hey honey – enjoying the blog and am rounding up votes for the 2011 Wine Blog Awards!
If I am not mistaken, I believe I heard that the famous Coinometer predates the Burger Shake and is from one of the Cumberland Amusement Company’s theatres – check with your DadDad to see if I am correct. (There may be prizes involved for the correct answer.)
love you and am so very proud of you
your cousin kb xoxoxoxoxo
(who has become a more salt and less pepper brunello these days)