I ran across this during my travels over Christmas break. It’s a simple little church, which unfortunately has fallen victim to neglect and vandalism.

Here’s the old Kullman built Silver Diner of Rockville, MD- now that the new one has replaced it.

Bought a copy of Nick Lowe and his Cowboy Outfit here. Good little local record store.

Spotted in Maryland

Back in 2009, I posed about the “rebirth of Tavern”. I emailed the current owner of the “Little Tavern” name Nov 2009, and got an email back today, with this announcement. The information’s just about the same as the last message, but now there’s a website for the “new” Little Tavern Shops.

“Thanks for posting notice 0f the rebirth of little tavern and our commemts
thereto. As to the responses you had regarding same. I note as follows;
We are working hard to arrange the first New Liitle Tavern Operation in
Balto. Co. Md. and will proceed there after to other Md Area’s and DC.
The New Little Tavern’s are to be 1,600 to 2,000 Sq Ft, with modern Fast Food
Facilities, Free Standing or Shop Center Location’s. However we still are in the
design of same, we are retaining, as much as possible the original colors, Building Looks, signage, including pictures of the past locations and originator Harry F. Duncan. Please note anyone intereseted in our progress may go to our Web Site http://www.littletavernshops.com. As to Little Tavern Mugs and Hats they can be purchased direct, for now, at our Web Site and will be marketed on Ebay and other sites soon. Dinner Hunter, again thanks for time and effort for posting our information as to Little Tavern Shops.

Modern”

And here’s the website copy:
JECCO is pleased to announce that the Company has been engaged to represent Little
Tavern Shops in the Licensing Branded Marketing of their Fast Food Restaurant operation.

Whereas, this is directed to existing restaurant operators and others who are or would like to
pursue Ownership of a Fast Food Restaurant by way of their existing Restaurant Operation
or new Start-Up Store, plus a Mobile Unit operation, whichever may fit into your Business
Plan.

Whereby, as your Licensing Brand Name Partner; Little Tavern Shops provides instant
Name Recognition (Branding) along with a Business Heritage of over 80 years, plus
exclusive Logo’s and Trade Mark ™ identity such as “BUY ‘EM BY THE BAG”.

Little Tavern Shops Operation Policy is flexible to each Owner Operator’s specific needs and
location, plus provides complete hands on assistance to complete the Little Tavern Shops
setup along with a flexible menu with NO Set Up Charges, NO Up Front Franchise Fee, and
a LOW Monthly Licensing Fee all designed to provide the best opportunity for the New
and/or Existing Restaurant Operator to be successful in the Fast Food Restaurant Business
such as the Little Tavern Shops has done for over 80 years.

If you are interested, please contact us at:
Office: (410) 661-4394
Email: Info@LittleTavernShops.com
Website: http://www.LittleTavernShops.com
————–
Little Tavern Shops is coming back!

Little Tavern Shops is moving ahead in the Licensing Branded Market and we would
like to share our excitement about the opportunities available to you through our
Turnkey Fast Food Restaurant operation.

If you are pursuing a course in the Fast Food Restaurant Market, I hope that Little
Tavern Shops stands out as your choice for a flexible food venue. Your Licensing
Partner must have instant name recognition, and Little Tavern Shops has a heritage
of 80 years which everyone recognizes the Little Tavern Shops identity. We are
flexible to your needs during setup and long after you are up and running.

Our offering to you is to provide on hands work with you to the complete Little Tavern
Shops setup and operation including, flexible in menu selection, low Licensing fee,
which is unmatched by our major competitors, plus is made flexible to provide an
opportunity for the “Little Guy” to go into the Fast Food Restaurant Business, such as
the Little Tavern Shops did 80 years ago.

Even with higher food costs today, Little Tavern Shops still provides the memorable
“BUY ‘EM BY THE BAG” burgers, made to order, direct to the Customer, from our
special original recipe with fresh ground beef (not frozen patties) along with all of our
other savory menu items.
——————–
The first Little Tavern Shop opened March 24, 1927 in Louisville, Kentucky, by Harry F.
Duncan. The first Washington, DC location was opened in October, 1928 and the first in
Baltimore opened its doors in June, 1930.

Little Tavern Shops is moving ahead and will be opening New Stores in the MD-DC Area in
the very near future. We have retained every thing related to the past Little Taverns, from
Design, Looks, Colors and Signage, including Pictures of the past & Harry F. Duncan, which
will be incorporated in the Stores and Marketing.

We have the Original Little Tavern Shops cups and hats, which are being re-made and will be
available for sale at reasonable price. To order, call 410-661-4394 or email us at:
Info@LittleTavernShops.com.com
.
The slogan of the chain is still “BUY ‘EM BY THE BAG”, and its signs promised “Cold
drinks”, “Good Coffee”.

James E. Cumbest | President & CEO
Alfred R. Wroy | Director of Store Operations
Ernest C. Velten | Director of Financing
Dennis A. Swindells | Director of Site Locations
Barbara Rogowski | Director of Marketing & Sales

This used to be part of the southern Donut Dinette chain. Last I visited, when it was the Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant (though the signage still read Donut Castle) , it still had the counter.

This is how it looked a couple of years back. You can see the counter and stools through the window. They’ve taken that out, removed the backbar and turned that whole area into seating.

This old diner’s barely noticeable if you’re cruising down the road and don’t know it’s there. Bad exterior renovation’s will do that I guess.

But if you stripped it all away, you’d find a c.1948 Mountain View with vibrant red fluting and the giant cowcatcher corners. We didn’t stop this time around. A couple of years we did, and weren’t too impressed with the food. But like I say, that was a while ago, so nowadays, who knows?

Definitely worth a stop and a cup of coffee to see the interior, though. It’s mostly in-tact, but the entire ceiling has been covered in big trucking company logo stickers and decals, going back quite a long ways. It’s a diner that knows its audience and caters to it. Even though it may mask some of the original details- it’s actually pretty cool- gives it a sense of individuality and character.

My dad, my girlfriend and I took a little roadtrip down to Winchester a couple of days ago to see the sights. Pretty country on the drive down and back. There’ll be more pics shortly of all that, don’t you worry.

The Snow White Grill’s an old mini-burger place, along the lines of White Tower, Little Tavern and so many others. It was designed by the same firm that had the Little Tavern contract for years. Change the colors from blue and white to green and white and they’d be almost identical, other than the location.

I made the incredibly healthy selection of three burgers and cheese fries. Incredible little deathballs fresh out of the drawer. Ooey Gooey onioney hamburger deliciousness- with a slice of pickle and mustard.

The place is tiny and was packed the whole time we were there- a great sign for its continued survival. Behind the counter it’s just one little hamburger making machine. A limited menu, but does it ever satisfy!

More on the Grill
Snow White Grill Website

Anna and me.

It sure looks a heck of a lot better than last time I was there! Can’t wait to see it open.

And for reference, here is how it looked last I saw it.