Take a Walk Down Memory Lane
Traveling down memory lane often leads to reminiscing about long-gone local establishments. Foremost in our memories are those that involve the sense of taste and smell. A favorite of Franklin between the years of 1955 and 1963 was The Green Door Restaurant.
Named from a popular song by Jim Lowe, The Green Door Restaurant sat to the east and right next to Brown’s Regal Market on Monroe Street. Bright green lettering announced the restaurant’s unique name. A painted green door and awning enticed patrons to step inside the doors onto the checked black and white tile floor and sit down to enjoy a variety of home cooked meals and fresh baked pies.
The restaurant was owned and operated by Bill and Alice Mitchell, who had previously operated the Jefferson Street Café. Most of the employees were family members including Bill’s sister, Reba White, who baked those famous pies, peach being a favorite among the patrons. Norma Dillard, daughter of the Mitchells, offered her memories to share with the Franklin Magazine.
She worked the p.m. shift and often covered any missing shift slots. Dillard said her mother ran the restaurant and her father would come in to be the grill cook after his workday at Arvins. He also oversaw keeping the books and payroll.
Dillard remembers that as you stepped inside the doors a large glass countertop held the cash register and a display of cigars, candy, and gum for sale. There was a jukebox for playing music and daily specials handwritten out each day using carbon paper.
Menu specialties and favorites included liver and onions, meatloaf, scalloped corn, steak, and breaded brains. Oftentimes, customers would request an item for the menu. Alice’s father, James Campbell, had brought his chili recipe home with him after serving in the military as a cook. The chili recipe later appeared on the Franklin Dog N Suds menu as James’s son. John owned and operated the popular drive-in restaurant carrying on the heirloom Campbell Chili recipe.
Pam Parker Tucker has many fond memories of The Green Door Restaurant. Her mother, Katie Parker, was a cousin to Alice. She recalls the restaurant being the type of establishment that felt like “home base” to her. She recalls family all congregating there on Saturdays to do a major cleaning. While the adults pitched in to help, the kids, including herself, were given a few coins to go buy some candy in town. Tucker said it was one of those places where saying, “you could eat off of the floor” rang true. Tucker’s mom was a “city girl” who had married a Needham Township farmer. Her mother always looked forward to the Saturday back in town to be with her cousins.
Dillard provided a brief list of employees, some of those were family members: Vivian Jewell, Jo Seagreaves, Dottie Vardeman, Barbara Carpenter, among others worked hard together to create recipes made from scratch to serve in the restaurant. They also had fun outside of work, forming a bowling team together. Being a part of The Green Door truly was a family affair in every sense of the way.
Dillard said her younger brother, Jim Mitchell, would often spend time at the restaurant before school. She said he often chose a piece of his Aunt Reba’s pie for breakfast. Tucker said she figures Reba’s peach pie ruined her for life. She has not had a slice of peach pie that has ever measured up to the one at The Green Door.
Fortunately, Dillard has saved the original menu and dishes that utilized at the restaurant. She was willing to share the chili recipe as well. Now, if we could only duplicate that peach pie.
James Campbell’s Chili Recipe
1 Whole Stalk of Celery (chopped coarse)
5 Large Onions (chopped)
5 Pieces of Fresh Garlic
Cook this together until tender then add:
3 No.2 Cans of Puree (nomal)
1 Gallon of Chopped Fine or Diced Tomatoes
Bring to a Good Boil. Add:
1 Gallon of Red Beans- washed
Then, Fry 5 Pounds of Ground Beef
Then, Add:
1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
4 Tablespoons Paprika (heaping)
1 ½ Tablespoons Chili Powder
3 Tablespoons Salt
Cook for 6-8 minutes. Stir Constantly.
1 Pound Cooked Spaghetti, Washed in Cold Water.
