Happy Days at the Home Drive In

The Home Drive In was a very busy place in the 50s and 60s," said Patty Hanes. "They were open pretty much all the time, and sometimes we would sleep on the beach and have breakfast there. Of course, most of the action was in the evenings and late at night. It was a place to 'See and be seen.' I remember seeing Spesh Servidio and his friends. They were sort of the original Erie 'Bikers.' He had a Harley with ape-hanger handlebars. He later had a furniture store called 'Especially Victorian' in the late 80s. Spesh passed away on December 13, 2011."

The Home Drive In was located at 2902 West Lake Road and was owned by Lamar and Edward Majeroni. It may have closed around 1968 or so. The restaurant had a prime location on the northwest triangle at West 8th and Peninsula Drive. It was close to the beach, Waldameer amusement park (and Trinity Cemetery). Cars parked under an awning which was heated in the winter and shady in the summer. Girls on roller-skates brought orders right to the car and attached a tray on the car door. Just like on Happy Days or American Graffiti. Another long gone piece of Erie history.

The Home Drive In attracted lots of tourists who visited Presque Isle State Park and lots of locals who hung out on the beach working on their tan.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Red Barn 99¢ Chicken Dinner

Red Barn vs. McDonald's. Two fast food restaurants competing for your dollar. A dollar went pretty far back in 1969. And how could you go wrong with Red Barn's guarantee: "You must be satisfied or your money back."

Look what you could get for 99¢

3 Pieces of Fried Chicken

Potatoes

Cole Slaw 

Roll

Red Barn had four locations in Erie, PA when this ad was published in the Erie Morning News on Nov. 15, 1969. You could get a meal at 1920 East Lake Road, 3424 Peach Street, 12th and Pittsburgh Avenue and 26th and Peninsula Drive.

I remember getting food at the East Lake Rd. location, which was across the street from Edison Elementary School.

Enjoy more historic facts & photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Chuck and Ginny's opened in 1961 in Erie, PA

ad in the Erie Morning News, May 26, 1961.

Chuck and Ginny's opened in 1961 in Erie, PA

Chuck and Ginny's is well known for its spaghetti sauce. This family operated Italian restaurant was opened by Chuck and Virginia Serafini Smith in May of 1961 at 1064 West 5th Street in Erie, Pennsylvania and shut its doors in October of 2007. The address of the business was later shown as 429 Raspberry Street, but it is the same corner building. 

I ate at Chuck and Ginny's with co-workers a few times before the restaurant closed, and the plate of spaghetti and meatballs was served on a huge plate, providing enough food for two meals. Annie was our hostess. There was a small dining area as you walked in the entrance on Fifth Street, and the bar was in the north part of the building. If those walls could talk. It's a shame that many of the old family owned restaurants no longer exist.

You could still buy their sauce at Ginny's Place on West Ridge Road after Chuck and Ginny's closed. Not sure if that is still the case.

Enjoy more fun and fascinating strands of Erie, PA's history at: Old Time Erie