Big Spring Cafe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Spring Cafe |
|
|---|---|
Big Spring Cafe in April 2011
|
|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1922 |
| Current owner(s) | Pam Milam |
| Food type | Diner |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 3507 Governors Drive SW |
| City | Huntsville |
| County | Madison |
| State | Alabama |
| Postal/ZIP code | 35805-3723 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 34°43′14″N 86°36′17″W / 34.720486°N 86.604806°W |
| Seating capacity | 2 tables, 16 bar stools |
| Reservations | No |
Big Spring Cafe is a popular diner located in Huntsville, Alabama. It first opened its doors in 1922, making it the oldest restaurant in the city. Many people see it as a special landmark and one of Huntsville's most famous places to eat. When it first started, the cafe only sold simple hamburgers. These had ground beef, onions, mustard, and salt on a roll.
Contents
A Look at Big Spring Cafe's History
The very first Big Spring Cafe opened in 1922 in downtown Huntsville. It was in a unique spot: a railroad boxcar near the Big Spring Canal. Over the years, the cafe moved a few times. In 1970, it settled on Governors Drive. This location was cozy, with 16 bar stools at the counter and two long tables.
Who Owned the Cafe?
Troy Baucom was the person who started Big Spring Cafe in 1922. In 1946, he sold the restaurant to Hazel Beene. As more businesses moved away from downtown, Big Spring Cafe followed in 1970. Two years later, Hazel Beene passed the cafe to her sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Howard Cowley.
The Cowleys ran the cafe until 1992. Then, they sold it to their daughter, Pam Milam, who is the current owner. In 2008, Pam Milam announced plans to move the cafe again. The old building was getting old and needed repairs. She wanted to build a new place nearby that looked just like the inside of the old cafe. The move finally happened in April 2017. The new location is still on Governors Drive, just a little further west.
What's on the Menu?
When Big Spring Cafe first opened, its menu was very simple. They only served hamburgers made with ground beef, salt, mustard, and onions on a roll. Today, the cafe is open six days a week for both breakfast and lunch. It is closed on Sundays.
Classic Diner Food and Southern Favorites
The menu now includes many classic diner foods. You can find hamburgers and hot dogs. They also have their special no-bean chili. Besides these, they offer Southern specialties. These include Brunswick stew, slaw dogs, and fried bologna biscuits.
Unique Ways to Order
Big Spring Cafe has its own special way of ordering some items. For example, if you ask for a "hamburger with cheese," you get a ground beef patty with mustard and onions on a square bun. But if you ask for a "cheeseburger," you get a ground beef patty with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on a round bun!
They also have special names for their chili and Brunswick stew mix. If you want a bowl with equal parts of both, you order "half and half." If you want a little more chili than stew, you ask for a "60–40."
See also
- List of hamburger restaurants
- List of Southern restaurants
