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Local
Goody Goody Is Back:
Citizens Share Their Memories Of The Old Restaurant
The original Goody Goody opened in 1925 on Grand Central Avenue (now known as Kennedy Boule- vard).
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In 1925, Goody Goody Restaurant opened on Grand Central Avenue (now Kennedy Boulevard) slightly west of downtown. In 1930, they moved to their traditional lo- cation on Florida Avenue.
Goody Goody featured carhop service, and became the city’s first drive-in restau- rant.
In 2003, the restaurant un- derwent a façade makeover, and in 2005, it was closed. A year later, it was demolished.
Richard Gonzmart, president and co-owner of the Columbia Restaurant, Cha Cha Coconuts and the new Ulele Restaurant at Water Works Park, purchased the restau-
rant from longtime owner, Mike Wheeler along with the recipe for their famous se- cret sauce and some furniture, including the Goody Goody sign.
First operating during the era of segregation in Hillsbor- ough County, African Ameri- cans were first denied service there completely, then later al- lowed to only order food from an outside window.
Some citizens looked back and recalled their memories of the restaurant.
James Ransom: “I re- member it
being a pretty
hot spot. It
was a unique experience, because no one was mak-
ing burgers like that during that time. We made it into an event as a family to eat there, and my friends made it an ex- perience.
“Goody Goody had a great menu, and just about anything you could want.”
Fred Hearns: “I recall eating there only a couple of times, and I remember the burgers were pretty good. Be- fore that, I remember my fa- ther talking about the restaurant during the era when they didn’t serve African Americans.
“I made it a point of going there, because they had re- fused to allow my father to eat there.”
Ronald Pressley: “My father worked at a place called United Motors. It was directly
behind Goody
Goody, and
sometimes I’d
go to work
with him and
we’d always
eat there.
They had
great home-
made burgers
and people from all over the city could come there to eat.”
Rev. W. G. Dixon: “I re- member the
mother of one
of my close
friends worked there. She did all the baking and some cooking.
“Although we couldn’t go inside, we’d go to the window
to get some food and a slice of pie. During that time, it was a drive-in restaurant, but Blacks could only walk up to the win- dow.”
Doris Ross-Reddick: “It was on Florida
Avenue, and
like other
places, African Americans were refused service there.
“When
they did start allowing African Americans to eat there, I recall how good the food and pies were. It was really a nice place togoforittobea carhop/drive-in restaurant.”
Marc Zudar, who will be operating the restaurant, said an announcement on the new location will be made in April.
Goody Goody in 2005, a year before it was demolished.
RONALD PRESSLEY
Meeting
NAACP To Host General Monthly Meeting
The Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP and the USF College Chapter NAACP will host their General Mem- bership Meeting. It will take place on Thursday, March 19th, at 7 p.m., at the USF Marshall Student Center, 4103 USF Cedar Circle.
This month, the guest speaker is Ms. Michele Manor, a banking Executive with Wells Fargo Bank. Ms. Manor will discuss Financial Literacy Awareness. Members of the community are encour- aged to attend the meeting to learn more about the topic.
Residents are also encour- aged to express concerns about their respective commu- nities. Anyone wishing to be- come a registered voter or join the organization can obtain in- formation by attending the meeting.
Dr. Bennie Small is the Branch President, Evangelist Shonda Obi is the Religious Affairs Chairperson, and Ms. Denisela Thicklin is the president of the USF College Chapter NAACP. Ms. Pat Spencer is the branch Secre- tary.
For more information con- tact the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP at (813) 234- 8683.
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