Diners – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

G & H Coffee Shop

October 13, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

G & H 24 Hour Coffee Shop, South Bend, IN
Copyright Larry Johnston

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

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

Texas Tavern

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Texas Tavern

Roanoke, Virginia

One of the stops on my Arts and Festival Tour was Roanoke, Virginia. They knew how to put on a festival, complete with great entertainment. Since the festival was just blocks away from the Texas Tavern, which we had heard about, we just had to check it out.

The nostalgia of it all was more than I could hope for. The diner was established in 1930. They claim that it seats 10,000 people (10 at a time). Famous for their Chili, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Cheesy Westerns. I noticed, while sitting at the counter, even the metal pipe that you rest your feet on, had been completely worn through to the middle.

By the readers of the Roanoke Magazine, Texas Tavern was voted the best for: Chili, Hot Dogs, Local Hamburger and Late-Night Diner. If you’re ever in Roanoke, stop downtown at 114 Church Ave. They are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. You will be glad you did!

Other Roanoke, Virginia places I have painted are: The Roanoke Weiner Stand; Agnew Seed Store and Billy’s Ritz.

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

Roanoke Weiner Stand

Billy’s on the Ritz

Texas Tavern

Agnew Seed Store

Bonnie Doon Ice Cream 4th Street 1940’s

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Bonnie Doon Ice Cream,

Mishawaka, IN

In 1938 Bonnie Doon Ice Cream was established and eventually grew into a local chain of drive-in Ice Cream shops and restaurants. The first business was located on 4th Street, in Mishawaka, Indiana.

I had painted one of the other Bonnie Doon drive-ins, located on S. Michigan St, in South Bend, IN and the painting was on display at local Art show, when a couple approached me to paint the 4th Street Ice Cream Shop. They used to date when they were young and that was their favorite date place. I painted the building as it looked at that time, putting their Studebaker in the painting.

The building was also the factory for making the ice cream for the other stores. It now sits empty, as the store closed a couple of years ago. Only one store remains, which was purchased several years ago. Bonnie Doon eventually entered the local retail market with a variety of flavors.

Here the other Bonnie Doon paintings I have painted: Bonnie Doon, US-31 North, South Bend; Bonnie Doon, S. Michigan St., South Bend; Bonnie Doon on Lincolnway West in Mishawaka; Bonnie Doon on 4th St. Mishawaka in the 1950s.

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.

Pelican Diner

December 30, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

“The Pelican Diner”

St. Pete Beach, Florida

The familiar style Silver Diner, at 7501 Gulf Blvd, in St. Pete Beach, Florida opened in 1951 and became an icon of American History for decades. In the 1990’s, I participated in several street festivals, located within a block of the diner. Everyone that ate at the diner seemed to know each other, because of the morning rituals of breakfast or lunch. I took many pictures of the diner after the show closed and returned the next year with the painting and prints, which were a popular item for the locals.

The Pelican Diner closed in 2001. I had heard that the owners ran the diner for all those years and were unable to continue. The Diner was sold in 2003, with the intentions of moving it to another location and reopening. The last information I have, is the diner is sitting in storage somewhere, but that corner on Gulf Blvd, no longer has the familiar aroma in the morning of bacon and sausage.

Other Silver Diners I have painted are: Rosies Diner, Rockford, MI; Rosies Diner #2, Rockford, MI; Inside the Silver Diner – Red; Inside Silver Diner – Pink.

Other St Pete places I have painted are:

Biff Burger

28th Street Drive in Theatre

Ted Peters Smoked Fish

Pelican Diner

around the sides of the wood.

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

Fried Green Tomatoes Window

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Whistle Stop Cafe Window.

Juliette, Georgia

In 1927, Edward L. Williams Senior, built a General Mercantile Store in Juliette, GA. Mrs. Williams, known as “Miss Lillian” and her 5 boys and one girl helped run the store for 45 years, until it closed in 1972. The Building was then rented to a Timber Consultant, then a Real Estate Office and finally an Antique Shop.

In 1991, The building was used in the filming of the movie, “Fried Green Tomatoes”. After the completion of the film, Robert Williams joined Jerie Lynn Williams in turning the building into the “Whistle Stop Cafe’ that everyone recognized in the movie. The movie and the cafe’ brought life to the town, as movie buffs and tourists stopped by to have some fried green tomatoes.

The news traveled all over the State of Georgia about its local town, Juliette, just east of Forsyth in middle Georgia. The painting of the window was one of five that were done from buildings used in the movie. The others were the Whistle Stop Cafe, Whistle Stop Depot, Starr’s Mill and a Home in Senoia that sat across from a railroad track. The Whistle Stop Cafe’ painting was purchased by Jerie Williams, as it appeared in the movie and then commissioned another painting, as the cafe’ looked after the movie, without the gas pumps. One of the paintings hangs in the cafe’.

around the sides of the wood.

11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82

11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82

16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ White Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72

16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.

Rosie’s Diner #2

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Nostalgia Painting Larry Johnston

Rosie’s Diner (2nd Painting)

Rockford, Michigan

While at an art festival, I had my Rosie’s Diner painting on display. One of my customers liked the painting, but wanted his car put into the painting. It was a smaller painting with only his own car highlighted. Rosie’s seemed to be a very busy place for photos of everyone’s favorite car. Here is a link to my first Rosie’s painting. Other Silver Diner paintings that I have done are: Pelican Diner, St Pete Beach, FL; Inside the Silver Diner, Red; Inside the Silver Diner, Pink.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.