| The twilight of The Corner Restaurant |
Did I shed a tear when a friend called to tell me that The Corner Restaurant had finally closed its doors for good after a remarkable 30-year run in Westport? In a word, no. But I do confess that I felt a twinge of nostalgia for what the place had once been in its heyday. But that was back in the 1980s, when people would stand outside for as long as an hour to get a table in what had been the hippest morning gathering spot during those wild and crazy Reagan years.
The food was pretty good, back then, when the original owner Stephen Friedman was still running the operation; Friedman, who passed away in the 1990s, was a charming and vivacious restaurant owner and set the tone for those early, vibrant years.
The Corner Restaurant would have turned 30 years old this month: Friedman opened the restaurant on a cold February day in 1980. While doing research on the building for a review of The Corner Restaurant back in 2001, I learned that Friedman's restaurant wasn't the first restaurant of that name in this space. In the years after World War II, the Meltis family ran a soda fountain and snack shop in this building called The Corner Grill. In the 1970s it was one of the city's first vegetarian venues: The Golden Temple Conscious Cookery.
Since the last incarnation of The Corner had gotten so dowdy and dull, it's hard to imagine that in the early 1980s, this same location was one of the most popular places to eat in midtown.
"Westport, in the 1970s, was the hippie capital of Kansas City. It was the coolest place to be. I can remember when it was The Golden Temple and everyone wore bell-bottoms. But the Corner Restaurant was much more popular. Steve Friedman was an absolute icon," said novelist Lou Jane Temple. "I loved the fried potatoes with the special dipping sauce."
"It was the place in those days," recalled restaurant critic Gloria Gale. "When you ate there, you felt you part of the Westport scene. In fact, that's why people went."
Warren Maus, development director at KKFI-FM, said that the place was too popular, which is why he rarely ate there. "I was too impatient to wait 20 minutes for a table. But no one else seemed to mind. In fact, it was a real little party out in front of the place with all those people waiting to get in."
My friend Lori, a local hairstylist, loved the food at the old Corner Restaurant. "But that could be because I was so hung over from being up all night. Most of the people on weekend mornings had been up all night, I think. But the corned beef hash and eggs were delicious. I really liked going until I discovered Cascone's Grill, then I decided it was more fun to go there."
Over the last decade, The Corner not only had lots of competition from other breakfast spots with more flair and style (Room 39, You Say Tomato, Succotash), but even fans of the place started complaining that the food quality had slipped -- and then there were those scathing health report violations, including last December's violations which temporarily shut down the restaurant.
It's still a terrific location and I'm eager to see if another restaurant will open in the building. It would be nice to see a new generation of diners standing in line, waiting to get in after being up all night.
Showing 1-7 of 7
Hi my name is Ranotta my mother use to work for The Corner during the late 80's when I was a baby. TS MACKENZIE - DENNIS CROSS i noticed you two use to be employees there. I was wondering if you knew a RANOTTA PERRY (we have the same names, I was named after her)that worked there. There is valuable information that I need and she is deceased now. Im thinking that maybe a friend she worked with might have the answer. Thanks. EMAIL ranotta_perry@yahoo.com
I can't remember: Was the Beautiful Day Cafe in that spot before or after Golden Temple?
Golden Temple Conscious Cookery
I know I'm dating myself here, but I actually remember this place. Ate there once and has some kind of gawdawful bean casserole, in between stints selling the Westport Trucker ("Buy a Trucker, fucker!") on the street corner. Ah, the good old days.
I worked as the morning cook there in 89... was 18-19 then...one of the hardest job ive had...
great food... too bad as I try and eat there whenever I am back in KC!
Ill miss those biscuits and gravy..still have the recipe in my head!
TS Mackenzie
Many fond memories of the Corner. Their scrambles were wonderful. But weren't they going to change into bar, named something like "Tom's Place", a few years ago?
Great piece of writing here - a respectful but not gushy reminiscence.
Thanks Charles for remembring the best spot in KC! Steve was a true and loyal friend to so many, and a true best friend. I was fortunate to have worked there, as noted, he made the place! It definitley was the spot that so many great people connected at! The loyal patrons and the colorful variety of people employed back then is what made it the work! It was the melting pot for the city. Cheers to cinnamon rolls, the scramblefuls, and great memories that the Corner and Steve created, as he will always be remembered! Everyone should have a half order of B&G in his honor!
like
dislike
