Dear readers,
Last week’s column about Chuck Prather rescuing the Lucky 7 Café from the wrecking ball generated a great number of reader comments. Many of those comments were along the lines of, “You forgot to mention Judy” or “what about Judy.”
So let’s have Mr. Peabody’s boy Sherman set the “wayback” machine to the latter part of the 20th century. It was a time when all towns were becoming the same. Franchise and chain restaurants were taking over America almost as fast as Kudzu had conquered the south. Shelbyville had a Shoney’s and was getting a new Cracker Barrel. It was also a time when Elvis sightings were in the news daily.
In those days I had a scanner and tried to cover all the local Elvis sightings in my column. One day, I was out at the new Cracker Barrel looking for Elvis. He was nowhere in sight, but I did meet an old fellow who claimed to have known Elvis. I remember he looked a lot like comedian Jonathan Winters.
“Sonny,” he said, “if Elvis was in this town, he wouldn’t be eating at some restaurant chain. Elvis would be at Judy’s Café.”
I immediately headed over to Judy’s Café. I didn’t find Elvis, but I did meet Judy File, the owner. Judy not only rescued the little restaurant on Miller Avenue, but she changed the name. The Lucky 7 Café had been a popular restaurant for years, but Judy had a good reason to change the name.
Judy had been cooking for years and had a loyal following. Judy was a good cook due to a combination of natural ability and practice. She was a legacy. Her mother, Virginia Rader, was well known for her cooking ability and had a popular restaurant here in Shelbyville on E. Broadway Street called “The Indiana Café.”
She also had a restaurant on Southeastern Avenue in Indianapolis before taking over the Lucky 7 and renaming it Judy’s Café.
Judy was famous for her big cheeseburgers, country ham and homemade soups, chili, pies, and cakes. The Lucky 7 was always known for having lunch specials, and Judy carried on that tradition so as not to lose those loyal neighborhood customers. I still remember the Monday special was beans and cornbread.
Judy read my column about Chuck Prather rescuing the Lucky 7 Café. She had great success with her restaurant, and she said, “Congratulations and good luck” on the success of the reborn Lucky 7 Café. Judy promises to stop by soon.
Comments from other readers:
Butch Swinehart -- I always loved the Kirk’s 5 points block. I worked for Jerry Robinson at the shoe repair shop dying shoes. As far as the new Lucky 7, Chuck makes the best biscuits and gravy.
Stephanie Rick -- When my brother visits from Atlanta, it’s breakfast at the Lucky 7 or a tenderloin sandwich.
Sam Rogian -- I live in Greenwood and drive over for breakfast.
Melissa Campbell Frogge -- I come for the tenderloin.
Joyce Blair Smith – In 1963, I washed dishes at the Lucky 7.
Mark Burris is responsible for my favorite reader comment, “Best column of all time.”
See you all next week, same Schwinn time, same Schwinn channel.
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