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SHIP RESTAURANTS (page 3) |
Ship Café [gone]
Venice, CA |
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The Ship Café was built in 1905 on the side of the pier to resemble Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo's ship. A replacement was built in the 1920s.
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Barker's Noah's Ark [gone]
Leucadia, CA |
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Barker's Noah's Ark was built in 1946 on Highway 101. It was shaped like a giant ark with large wooden animals scattered on the lawn.
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former Flagship 29
Union, NJ |
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In the mid-1930s, Donahue's, a nightclub/restaurant was decorated in a nautical style. When it burned down, this oceanliner structure was built to replace it. Flagship 29, 225' long and 70' wide, opened in 1938 as a nightclub. It had a two-dimensional sailor on the roof that waved signal flags. It was condemned in 1941 and burned down in 1942. It was rebuilt after WWII and reopened again as a nightclub, hosting entertainers like Dean Martin and Jackie Gleason. In the 1950s, it featured all the big-name rock and roll stars. By 1960, the ship was used as an American Shops clothing store. In the early 1960s, there were plans to turn it into a strip club. In the mid-1960s, another nightclub failed, as did a dinner theater in 1968.
In the 1970s, it served as a furniture store and U-Haul agency. By the time Brick Church Appliances bought it, it had been renovated so many times it was falling apart. The ship was demolished in 1986 and completely rebuilt as a Wiz electronics store (middle row of photos). In 2003, "For Lease" signs went up and the parking lot was used as the temporary home for Planet Honda. However, in 2004, the ship became the new home to a P.C. Richard & Son outlet, another electronics store (bottom row of photos). [scans second row thanks Tom Haggerty]
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The Boat [closed]
Vernon, NY |
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The Boat is 90' long and was built in 1923 as a restaurant/bar. In 2003, it was open but up for sale. But by 2005, it was officially closed with "for sale" signs nailed to its sides. Does anyone know what's happening with the building now?
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Diamond Jim's Gentlemen's Club
Beloit, WI |
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Diamond Jim's Gentlemen's Club was originally a restaurant. It has been here since at least the 1950s. The two-story building in back was constructed later. The restaurant was called "The Landing" at one time but I don't know if that was the original name. Does anyone know more about the history of this building?
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The Ark
Jacksonville, NC |
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The Ark is located just west of the New River. I can't track down any history of the place yet.
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Captain Benny's Half Shell
Houston, TX |
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Captain Benny's Half Shell is a shrimp boat-shaped seafood restaurant. I believe Captain Benny's took over this building in 1969 - what it was before that I don't know. There is another Captain Benny's in Houston which I assume is also boat-shaped.
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Captain Benny's
Austin, TX |
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Captain Benny's was previously known as Captain's Seafood & Oyster Bar. I don't know if the building was part of the same chain as the one shown above in Houston.
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Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar
Katy, TX |
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Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar is another shrimp boat-shaped restaurant. Captain Tom used to work at Captain Benny's. I believe the Captain Tom's restaurants were built in the 1960s. For more, see this website.
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Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar
Houston, TX |
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Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar
Houston, TX |
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These are the two Captain Tom's Seafood & Oyster Bar locations in Houston.
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Pelican Cove
McAllen, TX |
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I don't know if the Pelican Cove restaurant was ever related to the Captain Tom's or Captain Benny's described above.
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