Look for this Hungry Hoosier Seal of Approval at Indiana restaurants and other food-related businesses
Thomas Marr of Attica is the winner of the first ever "Where in Indiana" contest. His name was randomly selected from several who correctly identified this photo as being taken at the recently closed Wheeler Family Dining on State Road 28 in Attica. Thomas will receive an item from the Hungry Hoosier Cafe Press Store located here. Another contest will be announced shortly.
McDonald's almost bankrupted my family. How?, you may ask. Back in the late 60s/early 70s my family owned two restaurant in Oklahoma City." They served ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Most items were made by hand. The hand-battered onion rings were a very popular item. Both of these restaurants did well, at first. After a couple of years, however, McDonald's opened near both restaurants. McDonald's was faster, cheaper, and had a clown. We were sunk. It was not long before we closed-up shop at both locations.
Actually, I've got no hard feelings against McDonald's. The restaurant business is survival of the fittest. I was only in elementary school at the time, so I was not involved much in the business but my hunch is that my folks were just not savvy enough to make a go of it with Ronald and friends down the street.
Whenever I see an independent burger place that has survived the invasion of the chains, I immediately know that is something special about the place. Either their food is exceptional, their ambiance is distinct, or the owners are great marketers. Chances are, all these things are true.
The Short Stop in Attica, Indiana is one of these places. They've been around for 35 years and McDonald's is just down the street. I stopped in there the other day and ordered a regular hamburger. It was not really a meal time and I was not really hungry but I really wanted to sample what they had to offer. I'm glad I stopped. The hamburger ($ .99) was fresh, hot, and tasty. It reminded me a bit of McDonald's hamburgers in size and appearance but much better. Their menu (available here) includes lots of sandwiches - burgers, dogs, tenderloins, BBQ. They also serve a few Mexican items (tacos, nachos, etc.) and a couple of salads.
The Short Stop has also borrowed a few ideas from the chains, especially catering to families with small kids. They have an indoor play area and also kids meals with toys! The Short Stop is located at 405 East Jackson Street in Attica, Indiana. They can be reached by phone at 765-762-6119. Their hours are 10:30 am - 9:00 pm Monday - Thursday, 10:30 am - 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00 am - 10:00 pm on Sunday.
