You might wonder what about a post about Duff's Smorgasbord is doing on Amish365? But the reality is that the Amish are generally avid travellers. And when you are traveling, you have to eat. Buffets are favorite stops for vanloads of Amish and Duff's in its heyday was a favorite stop for them.
Part of food's pull is that it is, at least for some of us, more than the simple act of physiological nourishment. There's nostalgia and comfort and memories associated with food. For instance, when I think of Friendly's Ice Cream (see below), I'm not just thinking of ice cream. I'm thinking of many childhood memories with my parents, grandparents, my brother, and my friends trekking to their "walk-up window" and ordering a frosty treat on a scorching summer evening. Those memories can be powerful and even years later make the relationship with food a tough one to reconcile. Music is the only thing that, to me, has a similar ability to pull one back into a different time and place. Fortunately, music is calorie free! To supplement what I've written about in the past, here are a few more memory lane food establishments (and one drug store)....Does anyone remember these places? What else should be added to the list?
A Buffet Pioneer
Duff's Smorgasbord (what a fun word) chain pioneered the buffet concept before it really became big. I think one of these restaurants hung on in a local struggling strip mall well into the 1990s. Does anyone remember Duff's?
An excerpt from 1990 article in the Orlando Sentinel describes Duff's humble beginnings:
While running the deli counter in his little grocery store, Duff noticed that a lot of meat went to waste. It had to be discarded because it had been cut early, sat in the glass deli-case all day, and then became so discolored that – though it was still good – it couldn’t be sold to customers.
That’s when the light bulb blinked on over Duff’s head. Instead of allowing the good meat to be thrown out at the end of the day, Duff used it in a sandwich bar he opened in a corner of the supermarket. It was 99 cents for a meal.
A Circular Buffet!
The mini-restaurant grew as time went on, and soon Duff was selling his supermarket to open a real restaurant based on some unique service ideas.
His business philosophy was “one meal for one price,” and service was all-buffet. The unusual idea of a circling buffet was Duff’s idea. He patented his design, which allows customers to stand in one place while the food circles in front of them, instead of vice versa. A portion of the buffet circle enters and leaves the kitchen, where workers quickly refill empty bins.
Despite tremendous growth, Duff's sold his entire business to Kelly Johnson Inc. in 1983. Soon after, business peaked with 150 restaurants nationwide.
Are There Any Duff's Today?
I think there is one Duff's - under the name Duff's Buffet - that still holds out in Clearwater, Florida. From their website: Everything that Duff’s Original Buffet has to offer is freshly prepared. The buffet tables are kept consistently filled with fresh food and are immaculately clean. Our servers will bring your drinks and clear your plates with a smile. It’s important to us to maintain a standard at Duff’s. We want you to come back time and time again, bring your friends and family and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you will always have a great meal and be totally satisfied.
dragon606
Oh, I loved Duff's smorgasbord. My folks took us there several times a year. We loved the idea of picking more than one dessert (ok, yeah, we had to pick some veggies as well, but still....).
I still miss Arthur Treacher's. They delicious fish and the best malt vinegar. We'd buy some and have a picnic at a nearby park. Did the shop you knew have the "Long John Silver is a pirate" sign? That always made Dad laugh!
Kevin
LOL, I forgot about that pirate sign and that malt vinegar....mmmm, that was amazing, thanks for the memories!
John Turek
Arthur Treacher's is still open for business on Rockside Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio as of 6/4/2021. The long time owner of this franchise location loves reminiscing with customers about Arthur Treacher's at lunchtime. Still serving great fish, chicken, shrimp.
William Edward Fry
Where exactly is the Duff's?
Kevin Williams
Duff's once had locations all over, but now there is only one left: Clearwater, Florida.
Carol Crowe Phillips
To add a couple of my own to your list...Dinnerbell--not sure just how many were in this small chain. I know of two in my area in East TN. One is still open and the other, sadly, closed and was torn down long ago. I have fond memories of eating there with my parents and grandparents. It was our place to eat when we had to go to the funeral home which happened to be locate in the same nearby town. In my family going to the funeral home was a frequent event so we ate there often. We also got ice cream at the Dairy Queen there after some trips to the funeral home. Also add Handee Burger. I know no one will know this name unless they have been to my town. It is one of a kind. It used to be a Scottie's hot dog place when I was very small (They had great hot dogs by the way.) Then it opened as Handee Burger and is still there. It was the place for most high schoolers to eat lunch when I was in school. They had a student special for a dollar. It was 2 burgers (similar to a Krystal only much better) and fries with a drink. I still eat there as often as I can. Only now 2 burgers and fries does not quite make a meal!
Kevin
Ah, I forgot about Dinner Bell...they used to be in Central Kentucky also, but I think they are no more there...
Carol Crowe Phillips
There is a Dinnerbell in Sweetwater Tn, just off I-75 . The food is not quite as good as I remember but it's not bad either.
gert
Kevin, You need to read this article before you start drinking too much tea! Remember moderation in all things!!! Please try drinking more water, if you need the fizz try club soda or seltzer water and add lemon, fresh ginger, etc. Things that you can control!
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/04/02/arkansas-man-kidney-failures-stemmed-from-too-much-iced-tea/
Kevin
Yikes, that is scary, thanks for sharing that!
Marie
Fond memories of Bill Knapps in Middletown - if you ate there on your birthday, they gave you a percentage off on your meal equal to your age. My husband treated an elderly neighbor to a meal on his 85th birthday - 85% off!
Also remember Arthur Treachers - the only place I would eat fish (I hate fish)! And Friendly's Ice Cream on Breiel Blvd. Yum!
Kevin
Ahhh, yes, those birthday discounts...I do miss Bill Knapps...
lincolnlady1121
We just had an Arthur Treacher's open up in the town next to ours a few months ago. I was one of the first customers when they opened. Hadn't tasted that food in years. It is just as delicious as it was years ago. No Arthur Treacher's is still in business.
Marilyn
cabh
Bill Knapps Cinnamon Ice Cream & Chocolate Cake - the stuff of dreams. mmmm
Kevin
Ooooh, I forgot about that cinnamon ice cream..YUM!
Christine
Yes, Kevin Williams there is an Arthur Treacher’s in Garfield Hts. Ohio on Rockside Road across from a Marc’s & Save-a-Lot (not to far from I-480 and I-77), other one is in New York some place. I used to work at a Arthur Treachers when I was 16 years old, they taste just as good as back then.
Kevin
Wow, good, glad to hear that they are still around!
John T
Of the 800 Arthur Treacher's that once existed, only 10 remain throughout Ohio, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina.
Kevin Williams
Thanks, John, glad to hear there are still some left. I'll have to stop in Garfield Heights sometime!
Teresa Proctor
I worked at the Duff’s Smorgasbord in Pigeon Forge in the early 80’s. It was SO good, and we were always busy. Weird though, we were seasonal like so many other things back then in Pigeon Forge, and we closed down every winter, then reopened in the spring when it was time for the tourist season.