Pies past
I wrote recently in my column about Inland Valley mom-and-pop restaurants where you can reliably get a slice of pie: Roady's in San Dimas, the Village Grille in Claremont and, most notably, Flo's Cafe in Chino, where two employees work full-time baking pies, cobblers and other goods for the two Flo's locations.
Co-owner Donna Hughes, who with her husband Paul bought Flo's from founder Flora Slack in 1976, told me post-publication that the bake shop was his idea: "My husband is a big sweet eater. He wanted to have desserts put in, so we did."
What of pie places past? Charles Bentley recalls a few: Chavens in Montclair, which was near the old Holiday Roller Rink east of Montclair Plaza, and the Pie Place in Ontario, on Mountain Avenue in the building now occupied by Home Kitchen.
Then there was Wag's on Ontario's Euclid Avenue and the Hollander Cafeteria at Montclair Plaza, Bentley says. I can add Katie McGuire Pies at Base Line and Archibald in Rancho Cucamonga, now occupied by Dairy Queen.
Any memories of pies past, readers?
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A journalist for more than two decades, David Allen has been writing a column for the Daily Bulletin since 1997 and blogging since 2007.He lives in Claremont.
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Hi David, yes, there was also Mr. Big Grinders at 1021 W. Holt Blvd., Ontario, in the late 1950s. . . I remember watching the pie man through a big glass window. We ate at picnic tables with sawdust on the floor -- very exciting to an 8-year-old.
Well I'm a tad late with this, but there was a place called O'Reilly's Buffetburger that made their own pies. I believe it was on Holt near Central.
[Better late than never, JMac! -- DA]
GREETINGS:
Yes, O'Reilly's did offer pies, although I didn't know that they were made on site. It was located on Holt, but east of Mountain Avenue in what is now a paint store (the Paint Bucket?). O'Reilly's had an assortment of entrees, but I do remember their hamburgers. I believe they also had a sundae bar where you could put on whatever toppings you wished. That's probably why I don't have as good a memory of the pies they offered!
I did this the day your column came out regarding the item from Bill Ruh on things that aren't here anymore. It doesn't look to me like it ever got sent by me -- I apologize if this is a repeat.
I kind of got excited when the Stuft Shirt was mentioned and not followed by the Arbor. The Arbor followed the Stuft Shirt at the location at Foothill and Euclid. It was "hands-down" the best restaurant in this area, and there will never be another like it. It was a terribly sad day for me and many patrons when it had to close. It was owned and operated by Chef Walter Rippe. His daughter was also a chef there. My husband and I discovered the Arbor in the mid-'70s and we ate there every Friday night. I always had the Lobster Bake which consisted of:
Salad with Gorgonzola dressing;
half a baked CA lobster tail;
a stuffed, baked clam;
a piece of fried chicken;
stuffed baked potato;
English Trifle for dessert. The price was $6.50.
The Thursday night special was porterhouse for two for $9.95.
They had a large assortment of continental dishes.
Every dinner at the Arbor was preceded by an appetizer of fried eggplant.
The ambience was top rate and the waiters and waitresses all got to know us.
Walter Rippe also owned Uncle Ned's, a bar and grill in Upland. There was a live band and great T-bone steaks.
Both restaurants closed around the mid-'80s, much to the detriment of this area.
David, my City of Montclair e-mail address is now defunct. I just retired.
[Congratulations, Shirley. Retirement will give you more time to spend on my blog! And ride Metrolink, as I know you love to do. -- DA]
We went to O'Reilly's for the split pea soup. I don't remember ever getting anything else there. The oyster crackers were my favorite... of course I think I was like THREE years old. LOL
The Hollander Cafeteria had the best Boston Cream Pie.
The T Bird Grinders on Central and San Bernardino Rd. in Montclair. Was the best. So sad. Long gone.
I remember the House of Pies on Mountain Ave. in Ontario. The first time I had chocolate pie with legitimate filling -- not just pudding. A real shame.
T-Bird Drive-in and T-Bird Grinders, both a fond memory. One was on Central 40 yards north of San Bernardino Road. The other was on San Bernardino just west of Flying "A" Service Station on the south side of the street.
Fred Barbarossa Sr. owned and operated both of them. I attended school with Fred junior. This was 1957 thru 1961.