Restaurants and Fast Food – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

A & W Root Beer Barrel

October 14, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

A&W Root Beer Barrel

South Bend – Elkhart, Indiana

There was a time when building designs were used to attract customers, as well as Signs and other types of advertising. The Barrel became a popular design for Root Beer, as they buildings resembled the Barrel.

The Root Beer barrel I painted here was in the South Bend – Elkhart area. There were barrels located at 3 locations in South Bend, on Lincolnway, across the river from the Farmers Market , State Road 23 & Ironwood and at Mayflower and Western area. Elkhart had a barrel located on North Main Street. There were a few others located in the Michiana area. I painted it to look like as if it could have been any one of those locations. Of course, as usual, I surrounded the building with cars that could have been there during the 1950s.

I lived on North Ironwood, so it was just a short bicycle ride to the Barrel at Ironwood and State Road 23. There is a supermarket at that location now and all of the other A & W Root Beer Barrels have since disappeared, replaced with more modern buildings and equipment.

Other A & W paintings that I have done: A & W Rootbeer Drive-in, Taylor, MI

around the sides of the wood.

24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

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Azar’s Big Boy

October 14, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

Azar’s Big Boy

South Bend, IN

Azar’s Big Boy was a typical 1950s Drive-in, complete with Car Hops. It was right next to another Drive-in called Bonnie Doon. The back of the drive-ins was an alley, so it became a way to go in one and drive to the other and exit back to the street, around the block and do it all over again. This was called the “Merry-go-round”. Also popular in the 1960s, when I was in High School were motor scooters. The 2 pictured are the Cushman brand. The one of the left is like the one my brother drove. It even had a stick shift. Another popular scooter at the time was the Allstate. It had bubble type fenders with a storage compartment on one side, unlike the red Cushman with the storage compartment under the seat.

This painting was one of my first paintings when I started featuring classic cars.

around the sides of the wood.

G & H Coffee Shop

October 13, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

G & H 24-Hour Coffee Shop

“The Gag and Heave”,

South Bend, Indiana.

The White House Restaurants in South Bend were a local chain of 24-hour diners in the area. The most famous was the one across from John Adams High School. The Diner had several nicknames, such as “Fat Shirley’s”, and the most memorable, “The Gag and Heave”. The owner, Burke Hammond established the restaurant in 1955. They even had bumper stickers that advertised the diner as the “Gag & Heave”. The High School students loved it. On the other side of town, the Studebaker workers also called their local White House Restaurant, “The Gag & Heave”. Since I went to John Adams High School, I just had to paint the building with the 1962 Studebaker Lark Police car sitting outside, ready for action, just as it was frequently seen during those late-night hours.

The G & H, was eventually sold and is now “Jeanie’s” and has been remodeled and still sits at the corner of Mishawaka Avenue and Twyckenham Avenue, in South Bend across from the High School at 1444 Mishawaka Avenue, serving those late night burgers and lots of coffee.

**Prints:**

**ALL PRINTS** are printed on **canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars** and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

**Options:**

**wrapped print-** part of the image is wrapped

around the sides of the wood.

**Non-wrapped print-** The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

**(frames and hardware are not included)**

**8″ x 12″ Black Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ White Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge**………. $109.17

**12” x 18” Black Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” White Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” Wrapped Edge** ………. $168.07

**16” x 24” Black Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” White Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” Wrapped Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**20” x 30” Black Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” White Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” Wrapped Edge**………. $314.34

**24” x 36”Black Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”White Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”Wrapped Edge** ………. $335.65

24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

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Louis Lunch

January 2, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Louis’ Lunch

Gainesville, Florida

I remember stopping in at Louis’ Lunch during our times at the Gainesville Art Festivals and talking to the owner and looking at all the historic pictures on the walls. Louis’ Lunch, was established in 1928 by Louis Pennisi. The building sat at the corner of SE Fifth Ave and SE Second Street.

His unique Burgers were inspired by his mother’s meatball recipe, which became a staple of the area, along with the milk shakes and fries. Louis sold the business to his son in 1952, where Freddie continued the tradition until his father’s death at age 104.

During a burglary attempt, Freddie was killed in 1993 and in 1995 Tom Pennisi reopened the business.

Louis’ Lunch, eventually closed because of the recession and the road construction in the area in November, 2010. The painting is now an icon in the History of Gainesville, Florida

White Castle

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

White Castle

Chicago, Illinois

The White Castle Restaurants started in 1927, as the first one opened in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first White Castle in Chicago was located at Wabash and Cermak, in 1930. The restaurant chain offered small hamburgers that sold for 5 cents until the 1940s. The American term for a small sandwich 3 inches across or smaller was called a “Slider”, which became a common term for a White Castle Burger.

The original Chicago building has become a landmark, as the building has been restored to the original design but is no longer a White Castle restaurant.

The painting was done in my early years, when I started exhibiting at the Chicago area shows. It was a popular item, especially in the Midwest area. It was also included in my set of 4 Chicago prints, along with Billy Goat Tavern, Superdawg and Hot Diggity Dogs, which were horizontal paintings. I added the Chicago Cubs panting later, but it was a vertical painting.

Steak n Shake

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Nostalgia Painting Larry Johnston

“Steak and Shake”

St. Louis, MO.

While exhibiting in the area of St. Louis, I decided to see what they had in their area that was nostalgic. After some discussion with area locals, we found that the oldest Steak and Shake still in existence, was just off of Hwy 55, in St. Louis. Of course I had to check it out, along with some other possible places.

The Steak and Shake painting drew attention wherever I went. I put the cars into the painting to add to the time period of the building. Many people bought prints, some of the building and others for the classic cars.

I managed to do some of my painting at the shows, but customers kept me busy with questions. I liked the questions. The painting just drew the attention.

around the sides of the wood.

Mustard & Ketchup

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

The year was 2003 and the Number One Art Festival in the Country was the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami, Florida. I had exhibited there once before. When I was accepted for this show, I was asked if I wanted to demonstrate my work at one of the schools in the Miami area.

50s Diner

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

The 50s Diner.

Sarasota, Florida

While we were in Sarasota, Florida, we visited my cousin for few days. Since he is a car collector and exhibits his cars at the car shows in Florida, he was impressed with my Diner paintings. There was a local diner in Sarasota, called the 50s Diner and he asked if I would paint it with a couple of his cars in the painting. All four of the cars shown belonged to him at the time.

This painting added to the classic car inventory of the available prints.

Prints

ALL PRINTS are printed on canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

Options:

wrapped print- part of the image is wrapped around the sides of the wood

Non-wrapped print- The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

(frames and hardware are not included)

8″ x 12″ White Edge………. $109.17

8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge………. $109.17

12” x 18” White Edge ………. $168.07

12” x 18” Wrapped Edge ………. $168.07

16” x 24” White Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

16” x 24” Wrapped Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

20” x 30” White Edge………. $314.34

20” x 30” Wrapped Edge………. $314.34

24” x 36”Black Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36”White Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36” Original Painting on canvas Not Available.

Roanoke Weiner Stand

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

The Roanoke Weiner Stand

Roanoke, Virginia

While exhibiting in a show in Roanoke, Virginia, we found this unique weiner stand. Come to find out, it is Roanoke’s oldest restaurant and one of the most popular. It opened in 1916. Since I painted this picture, which was at 110 Market Square, across from the City Market, they have moved into the Market at 1 Market Square and opened another at 3601 Brandon. They’re known for their grilled hot dogs and chili dogs.

The prints of the painting were very popular, along with the set of four places in Roanoke. (Texas Tavern, Roanoke Weiner Stand, Billy’s Ritz and Agnew Seed Store)

I love Roanoke and could live there! It is such a cool town. Here are a few of my favorite places around town…

Hot Dog King

Billy’s on the Ritz

Texas Tavern

Agnew Seed Store

Bonnie Doon, Lincolnway West

December 31, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Bonnie Doon,

Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, Indiana

While traveling around the country exhibiting at Art Shows and Festivals, several were close to home, so I painted some local places. Bonnie Doon was one of those places. The Ice Cream Chain covered South Bend and Mishawaka, with 5 Drive-in locations. Other locations I painted were Bonnie Doon -South Michigan St, South Bend…. Bonnie Doon – US 31 North, South Bend….. Bonnie Doon, 4^th St., Mishawaka 1940 …..Bonnie Doon, 4^th St. Mishawaka 1950s. Another location was Lincolnway West at Bendix Drive, South Bend, which I Have not yet painted.

This location was on Lincolnway, in Mishawaka. It is the only location still operating but has a different owner, but Bonnie Doon ice cream is still popular. The ice cream plant was originally within the 4^th Street building and later located in Elkhart and could be purchased at retail outlets in the area.

The panting highlights the neon with the 1956 T-Bird, showing the era of the business. On the opposite side of the building, there was a drive-up with car hops and the traditional ordering through a speaker from your car. I even included my wife Evelyn in the painting inside, complete with the Juke Box. She is not the one with the baseball cap!

around the sides of the wood.