From frequent contributor, Ed Notter:
This is easy for me to do, suggesting a new topic knowing you have to do the work. Still, any interest in doing a story on what is now called Tiffany’s Diner? (Sure.)
At 72 I have many memories of the place but I suspect other old time MRH folks, including myself, would be willing to pitch in? I believe its first customer was Paul Revere after he finished his ride warning of the British and Daisy had probably just started working there.
There is a KMOV article from 2022.
https://www.firstalert4.com/2022/06/15/tiffanys-diner-maplewood-camaraderie-tall-tales-good-eats/
According to a 2014 FEAST article (updated in 2022), Daisy White worked there for at least 38 years from 1976 until an unknown date.
https://www.feastmagazine.com/restaurants/tiffanys-original-diner-in-running-for-spot-on-american-diner-revival/article_f78a407e-5ecf-11e4-9aa6-001a4bcf6878.html
Personally, that was/is my wife’s and my “Oh Dark Thirty Go To” place in the mid-late 70’s when I was stationed here as a recruiter for the Army. 15 years later when I retired from the Army we stopped in after an all nighter. I swear to God, hadn’t been there in 15 years and when we sat down Rosie said “long time no see Ed, 2 eggs over easy, bacon crisp, hash browns and wheat toast with black coffee, right?” I about fell off the stool. That lady had a memory like a steel trap.
Below are items from my original post on the FB page, Maplewood-Richmond Heights Friends and Alumni page. In parenthesis is the person who posted it. Not sure if you need their permission to use any of this but if you do I’m willing to help you gather them. (I think we’re OK.)
My Grandma Rosie worked there through almost all the owners (Kimberly Starbuck)
I loved Rosie! I once saw her break up a fight with a LOOK, spatula in hand. (Kathy Schmidt)
Rosie was a sweetheart & Daisy woulda knocked you out (Libby Hely)
I remember a movie being shot there when I was a kid and recently another movie shot there for the movie “On Fire” about a Des Peres kid. (Ron Clipper)
In 1963-64 it was briefly an Eat-Rite Sandwich Shop, then around 1964 it was bought out by Leon & Jean Harris and it became Gateway Sandwich Shop. It was Gateway for a long time until he sold it in the late 1970s-early 1980s. Before Eat-Rite is was a tavern. I worked for Leon and Jean while it was Gateway. Leon was like a second father to me. Started working behind the counter when I was 11. (Richard Herman)
I believe the tavern Richard Herman mentioned was called Johnny Ryan’s.
Leon sold the Maplewood Gateway store to Bert and Loretta, and it became the B&L Diner for a while. Not sure what year this occurred (late 70s or early 80s??), but then later it became Tiffany’s Diner. (Richard Herman)
Bill Morgan bought it from a Chinese chick, Greg bought it from Bill and Myra, sold it to Greg Winchell, dad of Tiffany, then sold to Tom Gray. (GJ Rhoades)
Tom bought it from Greg, Greg named it Tiffany after his daughter and Tom kept it (Bella Gray)
Much thanks to Ed and all of the other unwitting contributors. I did find out a bit more about Tiffany’s online.
In 1913, Maplewood Screen Co. was at that address.
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Feb. 11, 1985.
Also from the Post-Dispatch, June 13, 1996.
Another contribution from Ed Notter that you may enjoy is:
Taverns of Maplewood and Richmond Heights
Or how about a very interesting post about Ed’s father? Called:
Also you are sure to like:
The Ed Notter Collection of Images of Old Maplewood
And last but certainly not least, you have to take a look at:
Walter, Charles and Assorted Notters
As you can see, we owe a huge debt to Ed and family for all of this very wonderful stuff that they have shared with us. It’s a great collection.
I’ll sign off with a poem that I learned many, many years ago.
Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where them flowers is?
Doug Houser April 5, 2024
i remember a lithograph of Custers Last Stand in the front window of the bar where the diner is now. Probably 1955 or so.
I wonder where that’s at now? Good to hear from you, Larry.
This reminds me of when Drum Headquarters was located where the pergola is now on the Schnucks parking lot, kitty-corner from the diner, a place we frequented (I’m pretty sure it was called B&L at the time, for Burt & Loretta). Thanks to Google, I know the date was April 14, 1986. Frank Sinatra was appearing at the Arena and his longtime drummer, Irv Cottler, came by Drum Headquarters to hang out and gave us all tickets to the show. A few of us walked across the street to the diner. Irv, in his late 60s then, cut the total Hollywood look: flashy rings, gold chains and a perfectly coiffed toupee. He got a cup of coffee to go (probably $1.00) and left the waitress a $20 bill with a flourish, saying “keep the change, honey.” I can’t tell you the buzz that created on that little corner; for months after, every time I or an employee walked into the diner, someone told the story of the huge tip left by Frank Sinatra’s drummer!
Very cool. Thanks, Rob.