During the Catskills’ heyday, when lively bungalow colonies beckoned New Yorkers north, those unbearable hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway were often alleviated by one comforting ritual: paying a certain rest stop a visit.
Motorists stopped in at this oasis in droves — active weekends brought in 135 buses. The vividly striped awning signaled that soon tired drivers (and restless passengers) would savor a hot meal. Here, they could fill their bellies with slabs of Yankee pot roast, pastrami, or a simple feel-good hot dog. Beyond the satisfying Americana-inspired grub, this 24-hour roadside attraction was known for its top-notch restrooms, bringing in hordes of Greyhound riders in search of clean facilities — and an ice cream cone.
Opened by a pioneering Russian immigrant in 1931, it survived the Depression, several wars, and the New York State Thruway. When a stretch of this speedy thoroughfare arrived in 1955 and bypassed the restaurant, sales inevitably dipped. Unlike competitors forced to shutter because of the new toll road, this landmark, fueled by nostalgia, was in operation until 1984.
Can you identify the name and location of this bygone eatery? Submit your answer to the form below. The first reader with the correct response wins a prize. Good luck!