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Giant Containers: Coffee Pots (page 1)

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Coffee Pot Restaurant and Colonial Room [gone]
Pennville, IN
 Coffee Pot [gone]
Bremen, IN
The Coffee Pot Restaurant, shown in the early 1950s postcard above, featured Kentucky Fried Chicken. Somewhere along the line, it lost the Pot from the roof and eventually the building burned down.

The Bremen Coffee Pot is apparently long gone (this postcard is from 1939). The similarity between this building and the one in Lexington make me wonder if this wasn't the original inspiration.

Coffee Pot
Lexington, VA
The Lexington Coffee Pot opened as a coffee shop in 1959. It is 22' tall and 20' in diameter. The initial plans called for a globe on top that would light and "percolate" - but this was never added. A concrete walkway around the building was painted red to suggest a hot stove. It was used as a restaurant until 1978 when James River Livery (a canoeing operation) took over. As of 2007, the building was vacant.

Koffee Pot
Long Beach, CA
The Koffee Pot was built in 1932 as the Hot Cha Café. This giant metal coffee pot was part of the original, octagonal structure. In 2007, the building was used as a barber shop. However, in 2008, it was about to reopen as the Koffee Pot.

Coffee Pot Restaurant
Roanoke, VA
The Coffee Pot Restaurant was built around 1936. For more, see this website.

Bob's Java Jive
Tacoma, WA
Bob's Java Jive, a restaurant and lounge, was built in 1927 (another source says 1923). It was built by Tacoma designer Bert Smyser. The building was originally known as the Coffee Pot Restaurant and was located next to the Smyser Motel. There were originally giant salt and pepper shakers outside that served as bathrooms marked "Mom" and "Pop". In 1955, Bob Radonich bought the place and renamed it the Java Jive after the Ink Spots song.

The Java Jive has been a speakeasy, go-go dance club and the home base for The Ventures (1960s surf sound). Inside, the jungle/driftwood/1960s kitsch theme lives on. There are spray-painted game trophies, fishing floats, and African masks. At one time, two chimpanzees entertained patrons. Bob, the owner, died in 2002 and the place is now run by his daughter. In 2007, the Java Jive was shut down for electrical code violations but it reopened shortly thereafter. The interior was toned down somewhat for fire safety. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Bearclaw Coffee
Pinckney, MI		 Coffee Pot
Bellefontaine, OH
Bearclaw Coffee now occupies this drive-thru building. The original name was "Coffee Pot". The log siding was added when Bearclaw moved into the building. I don't know if there was ever a handle or spout. Does anyone know when this building was built?

The Bellefontaine Coffee Pot has been here a long time though no one seems to know how long. Long enough that locals call the place it's situated "Coffee Pot Hill". There was supposedly a restaurant here before the land became the Ohio State Eagles Recreational Park and Campgrounds. The Coffee Pot does not seem to be used for anything although it is in every good shape. There must have been a handle originally. Does any one know more about it? For more, see this website.

Perky's Espresso
Puyallup, WA
Perky's Espresso is a contemporary coffee pot-shaped drive-through coffee stand. There is a similar Perky's building in Auburn, WA which has become a Cowgirls Espresso stand. For more, see this website.

Coffee Pot
Washington Island, WI
This Coffee Pot was built in 1941 for the Washington Island Girl Scout troop. The girls sold treats from the coffee pot to pay for their cabin. It was built on a steel chassis with wheels so that it could be moved around for special events. The coffee pot itself is made of galvanized steel with two functioning windows and a door. It is painted with Norwegian rosemaling. Later, the coffee pot was used a tourist information booth (vintage photo at left). Visitors were given free coffee. Since 1996 when the Island Welcome Center was built, the coffee pot is purely decorative. It was restored and moved here in 2005.

Coffee Pot
Orangeburg, SC
 The Big Coffee Pot
Winston-Salem, NC
The Orangeburg Coffee Pot is installed on the roof of an abandoned restaurant. It appears to be about five feet tall. The building was occupied in later years by an antiques store but the building is vacant now. Does anyone know the name of the restaurant and its history? For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Robby Delius]

The Big Coffee Pot is one of Winston-Salem's oldest landmarks. It was made of metal around 1860 and is believed to be a tinsmith's shop sign. It is about 12' tall and displayed on a stand. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Lynn's Paradise Café
Louisville, KY
Lynn's Paradise Café features an 8' tall pouring coffee pot. It was built in 1994 as a fountain, pouring water into the cup. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.